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111 0 7>

Graphics

Hands-On With Hot Hardware

► Creative Labs

► Hercules

► ATI

► S3

► Rendition

► Diamond

► Matrox

► Yamaha

;Have you cleared th el ^ g ^
l^ts of Los Angeles yet?4£

Did yoMtiFi^the exotic dancers
or ^id you blow a few aiAmy?^

You haven’t played it yet??

Why is Duke Nukem 3D the best?

imwsfsk

CIS (GO REALMS) • WorldWideWeb [hCtp://wvuw.3drsalm8.cam) • AOL (Keyword 30 REALMS)
Mature Players: Violence end Adult Uismos

Developed by 3D Realms Entertainment All Rights Reserved. Exclusively distributed by FormGen, Inc.
All other trademarke are the property of their respective owners.

Even running in super crisp 800x600 SVGA it blasts
along faster than every other comparable 3D PC title. It's
not pure speed at the expense of versatility either - it is
possible to look up, down, or sideways at any time, with
the bitmapped scenery undergoing minimal deformation
and no speed loss whatsoever. The engine also caters
for full interaction, so bullets leave pock marks on walls,
enemy's blood drips down crates and eardnquakes cause
huge sections to shift altogether, thereby granting
access to new locations. It all contributes to the feeling
of being encased within a grim world as opposed to
wandering through impregnable, static corridors. The
effect is hugely rewarding and is surely the direction in
which such games should be heading.

This potential has luckily been exploited too. So often
games fail to capitalize on excellent technologies but
each of Duke Nukem's levels are noticeably different,
being packed with huge ramps, drops, lifts, jumps and
cunningly hidden secret areas. None look the same
[indeed there is often a significant variation within a
single building) and there is always a feeling that there is
a new tr/ck round the next corner. — Edge Magazine

"Game of
the Year!"

Joystick Magazine

For more details, make tracks to your local software retailer!

Circle Reader Service H70

From the Makers of I995's Game

^ Join forces with other adventurers

THROUGH MULTIPLAYER SUPPORT

* Play directly over Internet

* An ever changing gothic world
brought to life in SVGA

* Exclusively for WIN 95

A4ngeance, power, intellect and magic, these are the tools you will need to

battle the Lord of Evil, Diablo. Embark if you dare upon a dark and sinister
quest that will pull you into the very depths of hell itself... and beyond.

OF The Year* Comes Something Even Hotter!

AH rights rtterved.

www.blizzard.com © 8oo-953-Snow

Circle Reader Semce #266

*PC Gamer

iJI

b r|XH

V 'MmaUm

The New Multisync* M Series Monitors
With Revolutionary CbomaCiear™ CRT Technoiogy.

Behold the brightness. The clarity. The look of panic in
our competitors’ eyes. Introducing the MultiSync M Series
monitors from NEC - think of them less as new monitors,
more as the standard by which all others will be judged.

The Multisync M500'“ and M700'" monitors are the
first to incorporate CroiaaClear, NEC’s patented new CRT
technology. Similar in design to that found in today’s
televisions, CromaClear lets you view text, graphics and
video with enhanced focus, greater color saturation,
better contrast and increased depth and dimension. Simply
put, you’ll enjoy the brightest, sharpest, clearest images in
the industry - just what you’ve come to expect from NEC.

What’s more, our Video Boost feature automatically sets
the monitor screen to the optimal contrast and brightness

level for viewing TV and video images. Built-in speakers
allow you to customize sound for movie, music, games and
voice applications. There’s even a built-in microphone.

in addition to PC and Macintosh* compatibility, the
Multisync M Series monitors feature Plug and Play
compatibility for Windows ' 95 and are backed by a 3-year
limited warranty, one of the best in the industry. Perhaps
of even more importance is the fact that each is backed
by NEC’s hard-earned reputation for building, without
question, the most precise
monitors in the world.

The Multisync M
Series monitors from NEC.

Thanks to us, the only
thing that appears dim
is the future of our
competitors. On second
thought, what competitors?

To learn more about either the MultiSync M500
or M700 monitors, call 1-800-NEC-INFO. To have the
information sent to you by fax, simply call
1-800-366-0476 and request document #157201.

SEE, HEAR AND FEEL THE DIFFERENCE.™

Mri.rfsy.yc.U5oo

/.5" 'Jer/iiwlnffi' CR/'

HO.H" vixiihle imufir she)

.urumwc .U700

1 7 " CRT

! ! 5. f>'' s. 'tn^:nble imnff she)

Sup/w/ts nsoliiiiijiis fntni
fMx4HOto /.AVt’.v 1024

Knppnrts refresh rates
frnm 55 to I’OIlz

Haih-in spnikcis ami mirrophoue
OpriClear“ sircrii snrfare.
Ou-Rrrcni . Maaajirr Con t mis
I’liif; aud l‘!ay aimpalible
tear Hmi/eei v.arranty

Designed for

Microsoft
Windows 95

I Visit Qur new web site at http://www.neG.cQm~|

MulltSync is a reslslcred trademark and CROHkCittR, OpliClear, M500, HlflD and See, Hnar and FonI the Difference arc trademarks of NEC Tectinologios, Inc. Windows
and tlia Windows 85 logo are registerad trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. All other trademarks or registered trademarks arc property of their respective owners.
GSA #GS00K94AG524tPSDI. * 1996 NEC Technologies, Inc. Key #281)72.

Circle Reader Service tf89

!I5 3D Accelerator Cards

• CGW makes you an inslant
expert on the latest techno-
logical buzz-~3D graphic
acceieration. Loyd Case and
Dave Salvator demystify the
hype by describing the
basics, the players and the
results of this year's techno-
logical revolution. Find out
what's important in a
gamer’s 3D card and what
isn’t by reading our "no non-
sense" report.

■■ CGW’s new Sports Editor, Jeff
’ Green, joins his new colleagues in
seeking out “A Season for Every
' Man." CGW’s experts check out
the sports games which are
already on the field and some that
■ are still waiting for opening day in
this survey of baseball, basketball,
football, hockey and more,

72 Football by Terry Coleman
76 Baseball by Dennis McCauley
81 Basketball by Terry Coleman
84 Hockey by Gordon Goble

SECTIONS

TECHNOLOGY

99 Loyd Case

Troubleshooting Joystick
Problems

102 Falcon Northwest's

Mach by Dave Salvaler

103 Paul Schuytema

Quake! Programming
Techniques

ADVENTURE/

ROLE-PLAYING

109 Scorpia
Ripper

llli Spycraft by mark tiarkson

CLASSICS/PUZXLES

143 Terry Coleman

Cross Words About
Crosswords

Smart Games ay cbaries Araai

120 Psychic Detective by «rlan Demba
123 The Dame was Loadedby tbaries Aniai

ACTION

12? Peter Olafson

Choppers and Tanks

SPORTS

149 Dennis McCauley
Ptagued-by-Ptay
Front Page Sports Football Strategy

; b;r P. Sctiuytema and Kelly Kane

SIMULATION

161 Denny Atkin

STRATEGY/WARGAMES

175 Terry Coleman

Microprose Malaise
Conquest of the New World

by Aninn Dembo

]U RiS6 & Rule by Martin CIrulis

190 Vikings: Pirates of the North

by Dm Carter

130 Duke Nukem 3D by peter Olalson

136 Abuse by Peel Schuytema

138 Big Red Racing by Gopuon Gebie

^DEPARTMENTS

Credits

Meet the CGW Writers

Just The FAQs

Answers to frequently asked questions

Johnny Wilson

3D has its price

Letters

Our readers exact their vengeance

Read.Me

Computer gaming news

Game Track

A look at what's cool coming your way

ZOO Hall of Fame

Great games of all time

201

Patches

A list of game files to kill bugs dead

202 Top 100 Games Subscribers rate the top games
204 Marlin Cirulis What’s the deal with upgrade fever?

JULY 1996

"The installation is a breeze!... Fly in a different

DIRECTION BY MOVING YOUR HEAD. ..SHOOT BADDIES
JUST BY LOOKING AT THEM AND FIRING"

COMPUTER GAMING WORLD

RAPID RESPONSE HEAD TRACKING IMMERSIVE BIG SCREEN
SUPPORTED BY MORE PC GAMES THAN ANY OTHER VR PRODUCT
NO INTERNAL CARD NECESSARY WINNER OF EVERY
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VPC & VR PRO MODELS AVAILABLE STARTING AT $599

01 996 Virtual i-0, All Right* Raserued. Virtual i-0 and Virtual i-glossosl vpc & vr pro oro trademorks ol Virtual i-0, liic.
©1995 Oceatt of AniBrica, Inc, © 1995 Oigilol Imogo De*ign, All Iradamarks are the property ol their registered owners.
Psycho Kitty Advertising created this and Grant Watoru Horiuchi took the cool photo.

JUST BECAUSE
irS ONLY A
GAME DOESN^
MEAN YOUR
HEAD HAS TO
BELIEVE IT.

INTRODUCING THE FIRST VR GLASSES THAT GO TO YOUR HEAD.
VIRTUAL i-glassesIGIVE YOU MEGA BIG SCREEN ACTION AND THE
FREEDOM TO LOOK IN ANY DIRECTION YOUR HEAD CAN DREAM UP.

SCREEN SHOTS ARE FROM OCEAN'S EF2000, THE HOHEST NEV/

SO HURRY UP AND HEAD OUT TO YOUR NEAREST

OR CONTACT VIRTUAL i-O AT
1-800-646-3759 OR hHp://www.vio.com.

■ VIRTUAL ■ ■'”

I glasses!

YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THIS BEFORE"

Circle Reader Service #275

ANl}

I M JJ E !> A V 0 L 11 T E E K .

rnAl TANK DP THli

I UOAM? SOMKONlj’S GOTTA
|‘ TAEK !T OUT.

2 NliSiO SOMliONI! I DAN

DOIJNT ON. SOMliONK WHO’S

MAN 1! NO UGH TO HUN

rilUOUGM MACHINK-GDN TSIH

TO GUT THI! .101! IHINU.

ANl) ANDEUSON,
rilEHE DOIJLI) HE A MEDAL
IN IT FOR YA.

Anderson , Chuck . Sergeant . Leads 2nd Platoon’s Recon team. Probably gotta
wife back home. Damn good soldier. You give him an order and he figures
out the best way to get the job done. So what's he doing cowering behind
that bombed-out farmhouse?

Savi ng his own butt .

That’s what you should expect if you order him to do something crazy. In

Close Combat everything reacts like
it does on the battl ef i el d , f rom
the ripping canvas hiss of the German
MG42 machine gun to the screams

men it hits. It all goes down
right in front of you. In real time.

there’s no time to thumb through
the manual. You work your mouse like
a weapon. Point and click and boom,
the shooting starts the second your

Americans vs. Gernanss
'rfhlch.slde -jovl

gonna take?

men step off Omaha Beach and it don't let up 'til they've

taken Saint-Lo. Troops, terrain, situations - if you want to get any
more accurate, you'll have to shave your head.

Wanna go head to head with other military geniuses? All you
need is a TCP/IP connection. And guts. ‘ vs. »iiido«s» 95 :

Which side you

So look alive soldier; D-Day happens this July. gonna take?

Which means you don’t have much time to kill.

Microsoft

61996 Microsoft Corporation. Al! rights reserved. Microsoft and Windows are registered
trademarks and Wiere do you wsnt to go today? i s a trademark of Microsoft Corporation ,
Mac is a trademark of Appl e Computer Inc , 6 1996 Atomic Games , Inc. Al 1 rights
reserved. Atomic. Atomic Games and the Atomic Games logo are trademarks',
of Atomic Games. Inc. 1

CREDITS

orous training regime began early in life. He
graduated from high school with a Master of
Space Invaders and majored in Missile

Command and Dragon's Lair while attending

UC Berkeley. Jeff was born in L.A. and is

CGH^s Mac gaming expert, bul the editorial
staff holds neither against him. Though a child
at heart, Jeff retires home to play husband and
father-whenever we let him escape.

1 that, Jeff joins CGW as Ihe new Sporls game

1 antj Adventure game editor. He claims the rig-

Peter Olafson is a veteran
gamer and CGlfs action
games contributing editor.

A former editor of the dear-
ly departed Amiga World,

] Peter was unable to relin-
I quish his collection of the
I venerable relics. He now secretly harbors

five Amigas in places of high worship
throughout his house, which he shares
with his wife, Evelyn Nieves of New York
Times-columnist fame, and a menagerie of
small animals. Peter is the author of the
strategy guides, Fimal Fantasy III and
Thunderscape and is currently working on
two feleplays.

Mark Clarkson’s brain
isn't in Kansas, anymore, but
body is trapped there.
Denying that he was the
inspiration for Spielberg's
Twister, he claims to have
only attracted three tornados

in four years of freelance writing in the Great

Plains state. He has penned numerous arti-
cles for a variety of magazines, from Sci-Fi
Universe to Family PC, as well as CGW.
Dabbling in systems administration and game
production, Mark professes to be an artist,
with particular interest in 3D rendering and
animation.

Scorpia is not only the
most tenured authority for
adventure role-playing
reviews, but the industry’s
longest running “mystery
woman,’’ as well. Publishers
have been feeling the sting
of CGtVs Adventure Games Contributing
Editor since she purchased her first comput-
er, an Apple 11+, back in 1981. !n 1982, she
co-founded the original GameSIG on

CompuServe, where publisher Russell Sipe
discovered her and asked her to write for
•this magazine. Thus began the Scorpion’s
Tale in 1983, and the rest, as they say, is
herstory. Arguably the most experienced,
most outspoken critic of unimaginitive or
sloppy adventure game design, her loyal
audience wouldn't have her any other way.
Aside from her monthly columns here,
Scorpia can also be found online on GEnie,
Delphi and AOL.

Jill Anderson wears two
hats as CGW’s News Editor
and CD-ROM coordinator,
but fortunately she is a mas-
ter quick-change artist. Jill
cut her teeth on technology
journalism while working as
an associate editor at the late Morph's
Outpost, a magazine for game and multime-
dia developers. When Jill joined the predomi-

nantly male staff of CGW, we had our con-
cerns how an honors graduate from an all-
female college would fit in. Those fears were
put to rest when Jil! won the beer-chugging
contest at her first staff bar crawl, arm-wres-
tled the editor-in-chief, and told enough off-
color jokes to earn the nickname Barnacle
Jill. She is as close as you can get in com-
puter industry journalism to Karen Allen's role
\r\ Raiders o! the Lost Ark.

anil

PUBLISHER

Dale Strang

EDITORIAL

Editor-In-Chief

Johnny Wilson

Managing Editor

Ken Brown

Features Editor

Denny AJkin

Reviews Editor

Terry Coleman

Technical Editor

OaveSaK'alor

Associate Editor, News

Jill M, Anderson

Associate Editor

Jeff Green

On-Line Editor/AOL

Kate Hedsirom

Assistant Editors

Allen Greenberg

Elliott Chin

Editorial Assistant

Charlotte ftmther

Editorial Intern

ArryNg

Contributing Editors

Scorpia (Adventure Games)
Charles Ardai (interactive Fiction)
Loyd Case (Technology)

Martin Cirulis (Science Fiction)
Peter Olafson (Action Games)

Paul Schuytema (Game Design)

Founder

Russell Sipe

DESIGN

Art Director

Edwin C. Malstrom

Graphic Artist

Jack Rodrigues

Graphic Artist

Dan Fitzpairick

PRODUCTION

Production Manager

Steve Spingola

Production Coordinator

Martin Walthall

HOW TO CONTACT THE EDITORS

Address questions and feedback to CG Editorial, 135 Man St.. I4th
Floor, San Francisco. CA 94105. Or you may contact us via:
Phone; (415) 357-4900
Editorial Fax: (415)357-4977
CompuServe: (76703,622)

America On-Line: CGW
Prodigy: EXPT408
GEnie: CGW

Inlernet: 76703.622@compuserve.com
Web site: htlp://w/wzd.comJgaming

ADVERTISING SALES
Advertising Director

LeeUniacke (415)357-4915
East Coast District Sates Manager
Laura Salerno (212) 503-4851
Northwest Territory Sales Manager
Cathy Conway (415)357-4925
Southwest Territory Sales Manager
PatVifelsh (714)851-2556
Account Representative
Marci 'i^magijchi (415)357-4920
Advertising Coordinator
Linda Philapil (415)357-4930
Sales Assistant
Linda Fan {415)357-5425
Marketing Coordinator
Cathy Lin (415)357-4935

HOW TO CONTACT ADVERTISING SALES .

Address inquiries to CG Advertising, 135 Main Sl„ 14lh Fioor, San
Francisco, CA 94105; or call (415) 357-5425, fax (415) 357-4999,

.. SUBSCRIPTION INOUIflIES/ABDRESS CHANGES

For subscription service questions, address changes or ordering inlormalion. call
(303) 665-8930 or lax (303) 6(H-7455 Vrithrn Ihe U.S. and Canada. All other coun
tries call (303) 604-7445 or (ax (303) 604-0540, or -write to Compulef Gamirrg, PO.
Box 57167, Boulder, CO 80322-3131. The subscription rale is $27.94 for ore year (12
issues). Canada and all other countries add $16 lor postage. Airmail subscriptions
are S78 per year. Canadian GST registration number Is R140496720. Riymenl musl
be in U.S. dollars made by check or money order drawn upon a
U.S. bank. Visa, MasterCard. AT/LX accepted Printed in U.S.A.

^ Ultra-realistic
super-smooth
scrolling pinball
tables from the
award-winning
development team-i
Epic FlegaGameS'

Hulti-level
playf ields
filled with
exciting pinball
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play at once*

S6I-rendered 31)
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Digital sound
effects and music
that brings each
table to life*

Enjoy l-^ player
pinball action
for PC CD-ROn or
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PC Gamer

The “new pinball
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Strategy Plus

ELECTRONIC ARTS

Download the shareware version today
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visit your local software retailer or call
Epic tlegaGames at l-6t]D-^72-7M3*l to order.

'L 1996 liy&xIAncCamKEIaATn: Alts i¥Wn:£AICiCpacns)iaacdla3!xivilc>ol8ectnn:AAs

JUST THE FAQS

W ho's on first? What’s on the silver disc 1 had to pay extra
for? Why can’t I make enough money to cover my expens-

What's on the CD?

If the hot days of summer evoke
fond memories of bail parks, hot
dogs, beer in plastic cups, and the
loud crack of a well-hit ball as the
crowd leaps to its feet, you've come
to the right spot, Welcome to
CGW’s Sports Arena. With Olympic
inspiration, this month's CG-ROM
brings you an expansive repertoire
of sports games. Wind up with
Hardball 5 or FPS: Baseball Pro
96, an exclusive preview from
Sierra. Jump behind the wheel of a
stock car in Destruction Derby for a
smashing good time. For a (virtual)-
physical workout, we have VR
Soccer, Unnecessary Roughness,
and FPS: Football Pro 96 with an
exclusive play developed by CGW
contributor Paul Schuytema. It you
prefer the safety of ring-side, court-
side or rink-side seats check out
the Title Fight Pro Boxing, NCAA

Championship Basketball and Wayne
Gretzky Hockey demos-all fully
playable. Finally, unwind with some
sport fishing in Trophy Bass, all
from the comfort and convenience
of your PC. So, if sports is your
game, prepare for some action.
Sorry, no popcorn, peanuts, or
Cracker Jacks included.

Our Editors’ Hot Picks gives a
three-gun salute to the Editors’

es? You’ve got questions, we’ve got answers.

Editors-three sce-
nario editors for
SSI’s Allied,

Fantasy and
Panzer

GENERALS-and
honors the
sequel with
Interplay’s
Descent II and Blizzard
Entertainment's Warcraft II. Other
playable demos include Activision’s
ZORK Nemesis, Time Warner’s
Return Fire, Philip Marlowe: Private
Eye by Byron Preiss and many
more.

How Do I Use It?

Our CD is a Windows program. If
you have Windows 95, installation
is simple: the CD is Autoplay
enabled. Just “Lock ‘n’ load."
Otherwise, from Windows 3.x, pop
the CD into your drive, select RUN
from the Program Manager’s menu
and type D:\RUN-ME (where D is
the letter of your CD-ROM drive) to
run it straight from the CD. Then
type D:\INSTALL to create a CGW
program group on your Windows
desktop. If you have installed previ-
ous versions of the CG-ROM, this
disk will use the program group
already on your desktop. Point and
click to navigate around the CD, •
just as you would in any other
Windows program. You can access
any of the "Main Attraction" items
(such as Product Demos or
Patches) from within the Primary
Blunders “Surprise Attraction," And
you may exit the "Surprise
Attraction" at any lime by first click-
ing on the “Back” button, then
clicking on the "Home" button.

How Do I Access The
Demos?

To view the demos, first click on

EDITORS' HOT PICKS or PRODUCT
DEMOS. Next, click on your favorite
genre: Action, Adventure/Role
Playing or Strategy/Wargames, then
click on the title of your interest.
Each demo has instructions for its
installation.

How Do I Get The
Patch Files?

Click on PATCHES under the CGW
FEATURES and then read the text
window with instructions on copy-
ing the files to your hard drive. You
also may access the patches from
your DOS prompt by typing
D;\PATCHES (where D: is the letter
of your CD-ROM drive) and copy
them directly from there to your
hard drive.

How Do I Get The
CG-ROM?

Newsstand issues come in two vari-
eties: some with and some without
the CD. Each type is clearly
marked. If you can’t find the version
you want in the store you frequent,
encourage your retailer to carry it
(or subscribe to ensure you get a
CD every month). To subscribe,
simply call 303-665-8930, and
specify that you want the CD-ROM
version.

How Do We Classify
Games?

Action/Arcade (AC); The
emphasis is on hand-eye coordina-
tion and reflexes, usually emphasiz-

JULY 1996

II "in ni" fl" n D iirMii«ii

II JIH ill 1 II IHII-ISi

lliii I Hill II II Hii II II II lliii II Hull choose to stimulote their pleosute centers ot the exclusion of food, water, sleep, end sex.

They're monkeys. If ¥ in IHi I! n.! llwiJil LAulJun...!'

BUNGtE introduces Marathon 2; Durandal, the highly addictive game for Windows® 95 that will leave

civilization, you’ll uncover long-

you poor, hungry, naked, and cold. Within the ruins of an ancient
buried secrets of a lost clan and use sophisticated weapons to battle nasty aliens. Take pleasure in 28

game levels that will churn your brain into foamy gray froth. The SVGA 3-D graphics and active
stereo imaging don’t suck either. And 13 levels of intense network play may cause you to wet yourself.

Marathon 2: Durandal. How will it ruin your life?

Not that you’ll care, monkey boy.

Circle Reader Service M7S

ing fast play over story or strategy.

Adventure (AD); Games where-
in you control an alter ego and
move through a storyline or
sequence of events, where puzzle-
solving takes precedence over con-
versation and combat.

Classics/Puzzles (CP);
Classics are old stand-bys and par-
lor games that appeal to many dif-
ferent types of gamer. Examples
include: backgammon, bridge,
chess. Monopoly, parchesi, Risk,
and Solitaire. Puzzle games are
computer games which emphasize
spatial relationships, word games
and/or problem-solving without
requiring gamers to follow a story-
line. Examples would be; Shanghai,
Tetris and Zig-Zag.

Role-Playing (RP): RPGs are a
subset of adventure games, but
stress character development, often
through improving stats or other
attributes. Conversations with non-
player characters (NPCs) and tacti-
cal combat are generally more
important than in Adventure games.
Finally, the game world tends to be
large, and the plot less linear, often
with some quesis/treks outside the

main storyline.

Simulations (SI): Highly real-
istic games from a first-person
perspective: you may drive a real-
istically simulated race car, fly a
military aircraft with a meticulous
physics model, or swoop through
a detailed sci-fi environment.
Usually polygon-filled technology
is used to build the simulated
world on the fly.

Sports (SP): The sports game
category is a broad genre which
includes action (NBA Live) and
strategy games (Front Page Sports
Football Pro) based on sports.

Strategy (ST): Problem-soiving,
short- and long-range planning are
the keys here. These games almost
always emphasize resource and risk
management. This genre includes
conflict-based sci-fi and fantasy
games (X-COM, Outpost, MOO), as
well as “pure" strategy games and
“software toys" such as SimCity.

Wargames (WG): A subset of
strategy games, these recreate his-
torical conflicts from a command
perspective. They may be tactical,
operational, or strategic, and stress
anything from logistics and fire-

Outslanding:

The rare game
that gets it all
right. The graph-
ics, sound, and
gameplay come
together to form a
Transcendent
Gaming

Experience. Our
strongest buying
recommendation.

Very Good: A

high-quality game
that succeeds in
many areas. May
have minor prob-
lems. but is still
worth your money,
especially if
you’re interested
in the subject
matter or genre.

Average: A

mixed bag. Can
be a game that
reaches for the
stars, but falls
short in several
ways. Can also be
a game that does
what it does well,
but lacks flair or
originality.

Weak: A game
with serious prob-
lems, Usually
buggy, seriously
lacking in play
value, or just a
poorly-conceived
game design-
you should think
long and hard
betore buying it.

Abysmal: The

rare game that
gels it all wrong.
This is reserved
for those products
so buggy, ill-con-
ceived or value-
less that you won-
der why they were
ever released in
the first place.

JULY 1996

power to .morale and leadership.
They may be simple (Panzer
General, Empire II) to incredibly
detailed and complex (Pacific War).

What Is Your Reviews
Policy?

1) We only review from the final
copy of the game. Though it has
become popular among PC gaming
magazines to review from late beta
copies, we feel that the reader is
best served by having the reviewer
look at the same copy of a game
that the readers will find on the
shelves. While we recognize that
this causes some delay in coverage,
we believe the reader is better
served by such caution.

2) We expect our reviewers to fin-
ish the game. We want our readers
to be assured that we do not review
based on immediate or early
impressions of a game. Our review-
ers give a game ample opportunity
to show its quality. In some cases,
bugs make it impossible to finish a
game, but we identify situations
where that has occurred.

3) We make every effort to match
the reviewer to the game. We take

into consideration the prefer-
■ ences, background and possible
I biases of the reviewer and,
where possible, we find people
with actual life experience or
special backgrounds that
match a game. We believe this
policy enhances both the cred-
ibility of the review and the
enjoyment of gameplay when
the real world and the game
world are competently com-
pared.

4) We do not accept free
travel from software or hard-
ware companies, We believe
such gifts have a lacit
assumption of coverage
attached to Ihem. We will only
cover such events/launches as
we believe will benefit our
readers. S

ADVENTURE GAME OF

EYEAR

"LEGEND HAS PULLED OFF A
STUNNING ACHIEVEMENT THA
. JIAAILL^ET TNE STANB A1tO| |||
^^ ^SjffyRl^A MIN G FOR_^
IuZjSmSjP COME. - ^"'*9

COMPUTER-GAME REVIEW, f996 . : '

STARRING MICHAEL DORN

MISSION

Nonstop Adventure Salvage' a Dazzling Virtual V\/oVld Explore a Total immersion Full-motion .video,
crippled starship, encounter and survive vast alien civilization, aligrf a v/ormhole, • seamless, smooth-scrolling 3D, ahd
dramatic bottles in deep space. and decide the fate of mankind. layered sound effects with music.

Get your copy of Mission Critical at these fine retailers:

Babbages Best Buy Computer City CompUSA Egghead Electronics Boutique Fry's Electronics Media Play Software Etc.

Strategy Guide Available from Prima Books.
Also play Shannara from Legend

3 CD-ROMs
Runs under MS-DOS®
or Windows®95

OUTSTANDING AND SUSPENSEFUL!
BEAUTIFUL VISUALS AND
THOUGHT-PROVOKING PLOT."

*• ■ . -PCGAMBR, 1996

A MUST-HAVE FOR
STAR TREK FANS!"

- STRATEGY PLUS, 1996

ENGROSSING.

-USA TODAY, 1996

"IF YOU MISS THIS GAME,
YOU WILL MISS ONE OF THE BEST
ADVENTURES OF THIS DECADE."

-COMPUTER GAME REVIEW, 1996

THE ULTIMATE GAME
OF SURVIVAL

BLEGEND*

^ • ■ ' * ^ .ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY'

sSmcnL

'■""game

L^SURVfV^

Distributed by RandomSoft
A division of .Random House, |nc.

© 1996 Legend Entertainment Company, All righis reserved. Mis^ Crilical is a trademark of Legend Enterlainment Company.
Circle Reader Service ff86

JOHNNY WILSON

3D Or
Not 3D

That is the Question for Gamers of all

I f I were "just a

gamer" instead of a
gamer who covers
this industry for a
living, !’d be asking
myself a question.
That question is,
"Why does it seem
I'm always having to upgrade my
machine in order to get to that next
level of game experience?" The fol-
low-up question is, “Why don’t
these next levels happen by pro-
gramming alone?"

The answer to the second ques-
tion is that to a certain extent they
do. Some fanatic programmers like
the guys at id manage to give us a
new type of experience and it caus-
es a revolution. As other teams try
to raise the ante on the program-
ming breakthrough, they put more
and more pressure on the hard-
ware. Eventually, the programmers
reach a critical juncture, a point of
diminishing returns. They have
accomplished miracles, but you
can't tell they have because they’ve
caused just enough burden on the
hardware to create a noticeable
performance hit.

This is when we need hardware
to move to the next level. That's
part of the answer to the first
question. You are constantly being
challenged to upgrade your
machine because the game pro-
grammers are constantly challeng-
ing the limits of the available

machines. Why? To a large extent 9
it’s because gamers tend to buy
the types of showcase products
that exploit the newest, fastest and
most powerful machines. Game
publishers know that gamers who
purchase the latest and greatest in
hardware are the most likely to
buy software products that show
off the capabilities of that new
hardware. So, they constantly
overshoot the mark in terms of
machine performance in order to
ride that upgrade curve.

Sometimes it backfires when
they get too far ahead of the curve
(as it did for developers who were
first out with Windows ’95 native
products), but sometimes it can be
very lucrative (as it was for Sierra’s
King’s Quest IV and Space Quest III
when the first 8-bit sound cards
arrived, and for Origin’s Wing
Commander series at each step of
the 386, 486, Pentium upgrade
cycle). So, the issue sometimes
seems like a chicken and egg
question.

GAMES IN THE THIRD
DIMENSION

We are now at that point with 30
accelerator cards. Many gamers
will plunk down several hundred
dollars over the next six months in
order to gel a performance boost
on 3D games. Others question
whether 3D hardware will be worth
the price. They’re asking, "Aren’t

> 3D will
improve every
gaming genre,
but it has its
price, yy

these new cards just a new toy for
those fiight sim guys?” and “Will
these cards enhance the experi-
ence enough to justify the price?"

Well, 3D isn’t just for flight sims
anymore. Action gamers know this.
They’ve seen first-person point of
view games (like DOOM and Rise
OF THE Triad) that use 3D tricks in
2-D space transformed into real 30
products (like Terminator; Future
Shock and Quake). Even the staple
of action gaming, horizontal
scrolling fighting games, have
matured to a point where they have
a third dimension. Space combat
games like Wing Commander and
Mechwarrior have used 3D to rep-
resent space combat for a long
time, but new games (like
Interplay’s Star Fleet Academy)
with more detailed ships and tex-

ture-maps, as well as special light-
ing effects, are invading the space
held by these two leaders.

Recently, we even saw a
driving/shooting game, once the
no-brainer capitof of action gam-
ing, in development that takes
place on an ice planet and uses
full 3D and a sophisticated physi-
cal model to handle friction (and
lack thereof), height, slopes,
speed, and more. 3D has added
tremendous new depth to the
model.

Adventure gamers and roie-play-
ers are beginning to discover that
3D game environments seem more
real than the classic 2-D rooms of
years past. Alone in the Dark,
Ecstatica and Relentless proved
the appeal of 3D in adventure
games, but you haven’t seen any-
thing, yet. Mindscape’s Dark
Earth, Psygnosis’ Ecstatica 2, and
Psygnosis’ City of Lost Children
are some of this year’s titles that
will be cutting edge, with Sierra’s
King’s Quest Vlfl coming along
next Christmas with a distinctly 3D
emphasis.

Sports gamers will soon discov-
er what a difference 3D sports can

JULY 1996

Ndflh ^ea

"•^tielAReader Service #7687^

Are you a student of World War II
history? Have you ever wondered how
WWII would have developed if the
Germans had captured Moscow, or invaded
Britain? As the Allies, would you like to
try to invade France before 1944? In this
faithful adaptation of our popular board
game, you command the armies, air forces
and navies of one of the major powers
during WWII. The game includes air,
ground and sea forces of all the historical
belligerents plus the forces of Spain and
Turkey. Players are free to pursue many
strategies — this is a perfect game to explore
the many "what ifs" of WWII.

Biird Reich PC can be played by two players or
can be played alone against the sophisticated
A.I. There are four scenarios provided,
simulating the strategic situations in 1939,

1942, 1944 and a game that covers the entire
war from 1939 to 1946.

ThlPd Reich PC #45959 runs on IBM PC CD-ROM
and compatibles, To order, call 1-800-999-3222
and ask for operator CGW7, or E-mail us on
CompuServe: 72662,1207, America-On-Line:

AH Games, or the Internet: ahgames@aol.com.
You may also want to visit our forum on
CompuServe: go GAMECPUB, our industry
connection area on AOL: keyword AVALON
PULL, or our worldwide web page at
http://members.aol.com/ahgames/avalon.html.

mean-even to the statistics-ori-
ented, “manage only" crowd. Tired
of having a limited number of ani-
mated sequences for each type of
hit, tackle or slam dunk? 3D
graphics built around physics-
based models of terrain, atmos-
phere, and players should provide
a variety as endless as real sports.
For example, I’m not a soccer fan,
but I recently saw a European title
on the Playstation that was unbe-
lievabie. The different kicks, cam-
era angles and shots are phenom-
enal. Even though I’m not a fan,
the extra element of realism pulled
me in. Action-oriented and stats-
oriented sports gamers alike will
benefit from the emphasis on 3D.

My favorite games are strategy
and wargames. I particularly like
historical wargames. When you
remember that I come from a
boardgame background, what I
have to say is of particular impor-
tance. I used to think that hex-
based maps were enough (and
sometimes, they are), but the fact
is that 3D enhances historical
wargames, as well. Now, we can
have colorful Napoleonic era
troops charging across a battle-
field-not lead soldiers on a
miniatures table, but animated fig-
ures with an Ai all their own.

Being able to take cover behind
3D terrain and having movement
realistically affected by the terrain
reflects just some of the advan-
tages of putting strategy and
wargames in 3D.

Of course, someone might say
that puzzle and classic games
don’t benefit from 3D technology.
Even that may not be true. When I
solved the broken cup puzzle in
Ripper, I suddenly felt that the 3D
had both enhanced and detracted
from the puzzle. The detraction was
an interface problem, but the puz-
zle itself was intriguing. Since
many games shops carry entire

lines of 3D puzzles, there may be a
new style of puzzle game on the
computer that will benefit from the
technology. Of course, 3D anima-
tion hasn’t hurt classic games.
Witness the facelifts 3D has given
the multimedia version of
Monopoly and some of the later
Battlechess products.

HOUSE OF CARDS

The bottom line is that almost
every game genre is starting to get
its share of 3D products. Many of
these games will be written to take
advantage of Direct-3D drivers in
Microsoft Windows 95 which, in
turn, will run faster because of 3D
accelerator cards. If you. like me,
think that 3D significantly
enhances the gaming experience,
you know that you'll need an
accelerator card. You’ve already
seen how the processor-intensive
calculations of new 3D games is
starting to hit overall game perfor-
mance. Imagine what happens as
artists try to put more and more
details on the textures. Imagine
what happens when improved AI
routines hit an already overworked
processor. Then, what started out
as a positive, suddenly becomes a
negative.

Yes, if I were "just a gamer," I’d
be wondering if I’m really going to
need one of those new 3D cards.

As "just a gamer" who covers this
industry, I know I’m going to have
to have one. As a magazine, we’ve
chosen this issue, before many of
the cards have actually hit the mar-
ket, to help get you up to speed on
3D technology, give our expecta-
tions on the coming cards, tell you
what to look for in a gaming-orient-
ed 3D card, and explain what dif-
ferent features mean to you. We’ve
been as practical as we can and
we hope our special coverage this
month will help you answer the
question, %

ZIFF-DAVIS PUBLISHINB GROUP

• CHAIRMAN AND CEO EfIcHtppOaU ; -'j,':' •

CONSUMER MEDIA GROUP

President J. Scott Briggs
Vice President J. Ttiomas Collingham
Director of Electronic Pubtishing Bellt.Cataldo
Executive Director, Research Randy Cohon

Business Manager Cynthia Mason '
Creative Services Manager Tetri Rawsen
Assistant to the President Francesca Koe

ZKI-Davls Publishing

President, U.S, Publications Rsttnl Somnbeig
President, Interactive Media

And Development Group Jelfrey Ballwe
President, International Media Group J.B. Holsion III
President,

Computer Inteltigence/Infocorp Bob Bmn
President, Training & Support

Publishing Group iAfiliiain Rosetilhal
Vice President, Chief Financial Office Timolhy O'Brien
Vice President, General Counsel,

And Secretary J. Malcolm Mortis
Vice President, Human Resources Rayna Btown
Vice President, Planning Daryl R. Olle
Vice President, Production Roger Herrmann
Vice President, Controller Mark Moyer

Treasurer Thomas L. V/rlght

U.S. Publications Group

President, U.S. Publications Roonl Sormenberg
President, Business Media Group Claude Sheet
President, Consumer Media Group J. Scolt Briggs
Senior Vice President, Circulation
Assistant to the Chairman
Vice President, Marketing Services
Vice President, Central Advertising Sales
Vice President, Product Testing
Vice President, Circulation Services
Vice President
Vice President
Vice President
Vice President
Vice President
Vice President
Executive Director, Licensing
Director of ZD Labs
Director, Benchmark Operation
Ziff-Davis Magazine Network
Vice President/Managfng Director
Executive Director
Marketing Director Mike Pf
Directors

Tom McGrade
Jim Manning
Bob Bader
Mark Van Name
James F. Rarraley
Don Byrnes
AI OiGuido
Daniel Farber
Michael Milier

Paul Somerson
Gertrud Sorchardt
Bob Kane
Bill Catchings

Joe Gillespie
Alicia Sarlbaiis

Ken Beach, Michael Bird. Jelf Bruce, Kelly
Lowmaii, Melinda Magmn, Debbie Moss,
Julie Tuttle

Director of Public Relations Gregory Jarboe

PERMISSIONS AND REPRINTS

COMPUTER GAMING WORLD (ISSN 0744-6667) Is published monthly by Zifl-Oavis
Publishing Company, Copyright “ 1996 Zill Davis Publishing Company. All Rights Reserved.
Material In this publicalion may not be reproduced in any lorm without permission, if you ward
lo quote (fom an article, write to Chanta) Tucker, One Park Avenue, New 'ftirk, NY 10016-5802, or
fax (212) 503-5420, For price quotes on leprinls, please contact Zifl-Oavis reprints at (800) 825-
4237, Computer Gaming World is not alfillated with IDG. We periodically make lists of our cus-
tomers available lo oatolully screened mailers of quality goods and services. If
you do not wish to recerve such mailings, lei us know by wriling us al
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Mil Bureau ot Cimilatlons

Member AUDITED

COMING IN SEPTEMBER

Commander Zod is waiting http://www.vie.com

Z ©1996 The Bilmop Brothers, licensed exclusively to Virgirt Interactive Entertainment, Inc. From Renegode
Sohware, a Wornor Interactive Compony. Virgin is o registered trodemork of Virgin Enterprises, ltd.

W Reader Serv,

C ^omBininc fIrsT PEH^son 3 - 1 ) sHOOt eib vtttinc stoRyiinE-essential to tHE CAmEPLAY.
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-Peter Olafson,

Computer Gaming World,
Slay 199G

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CAPABILitY: SVPPORJS
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This product contains eoltwara code owned by Id Software Inc, (tl)« ‘lif Pode"). Id Codo 01083,

C/Vcf^'fieac/eV Sar^^'%80 ^

LETTERS

,ke tlie new fomiat, nut please Pring back “Under Hic
tless limes in the past.

Da\'e Bartkowiak
O^deii, UT

im-er actually killed “Under
Vie Hood. " hryd Case’n column
covere the same subject matter
and even has heljrful hints for
setting up your hardware to get
the best gaming experiences.

WINDOWS WATCHING

1 was caiising ihrongh the coinpiit-
er shops the other day and I noticed a
weird tliing.Mosl of the games and
utilities were fur W'lndows 95. 1 am
not currently a Windows 95 user
because 1 like plain DOS and I think
tliat the computer evolution which
Win 95 is currently at is not needed.

So many )reo|jle have 4S6s with
4-8 MB of IMM. I tested Win95
and found out that almost %7c of
games and utilities would not run
or would be veiy slow due to mem-
oty' shortage. I think it’s not fair to
Win 3.1 and DOS users. Window's
95 is taking over the computer mar-
ket and 1 think it’s currently way
ahead of computer technology
itself.Wliat I mean is that comput-
ers that run Wn 95 fast are so
c-vpensive and most people have
486.S, making it impossible to am
and use games, I hope Microsoft
would reconsider the R/\M and
other abilities of computers that
most people have.

Mike D Andreyev
Internet Subscriber

Game publishers Im’e to continu-
ally aim fora moving taigel. It is a
chicken and egg situation. If game
publishers don't plan to support the
hottest machines down the line with
the hottest new features, most gamers
will simph’ dismiss that publisher as

being archaic and out of dale. So,
game publishers hcri'e to look at the
potential machine base around 18-2-1
months in the ftture. As the}’ develop
these games, I can assure )’ou that
they are not thinking of 486 machines
with limited /\t press time, the
(li’erage machine "on sale” was a
Pentium B3 with more than 12 MB of
R-\(V/ and more than a I GB hard disk
(Source Ziff-Da\’is' Consumer PC
Inde.xj. Vie best use of that power is
currentl}’ through Windows 95 gomes.
W'Jn 95 fs the best transitional tool we
licwe forgetting the computer game
industi}' to migrate to: a) standard dri-
veis for sound, video, 3-D; b) Inie 32-
bit computing that will eventually
enable us to use Pentium Pros for
gaming and go beyond; and c) stan-
dard connectwit}' for multiploj'er
games with elaborate!}’ hardcoding
network solutions.

SUPPLEMENTARY,

MY DEAR WATSON

1 /ived your Playstation coverage
in your May issue. As a longtime
ow'iierofboth PCs and consoles, I
fell that there w'cre many console
games that w'ere just as good as their
PC counterparts. 1 low' about some
coverage of the Sega Saturn?
Considering the recent translations
of several Saturn games for the PC
and vicc-versa (if I’m not mistaken.
Command an'D Conquer is being
developed for Saturn), as well as the
large number of RI’Gs and slrateg)'
games coming out for Saturn (espe-
cially by the company Working
Designs, w'hich specializes in llPCs
and slrateg}' games), it seems that
coverage of Saturn is in order.

Waller “PsychoKick” Yoon
Cornell Unweisify

'thanks, Walter. We thought it was a
marvelous supplementary section, as
well. Unfortunate!)’, our opinion uus a

minority v/cu’. 1 lere are a couple oj the
iiegatwe letters.

10 pages on tlic bloody
Playstation? Wliy?? Do remember
that \'ou are a comjjuter gaming
magcizine. In fact, you are the finest
computer gaming magazine. But if
this console schlock becomes a
trend, I’ll have to rethink that judg-
ment.

Brian Griffin
Bellefonie, PA

Playstation in CGW? Puh-!ecze!
Wliat nc-Kt? CamcBoy cover storie,s?

Ken'll Buss'/er

Atlanta, CJA

7 he Pla}>station supplement uws a
self-supporting section which didn't
take an}’ pages awo}’ from our regular
PC coverage. We wanted to gauge the
interest of our readers in looking
toward publishing our on7i
Plcr}’station book. Wfe feel so good
about that market that our parent
compaty, Zijf-Da\’is, has just pur-
chased Sendai Publishing. Viis means
that you will be able to get console
game coverage in our other books, but
that there Mil be no need for
Computer Gaming World to dupli-
cate that coverage in our pages,
llowtwer, to those of you who were
angiy about the Pla}'station supple-

►

To wTite a letter, send e-mail to:

'■ .CompuServe: 76703,622
fntemet; 76703.622@com
piiserve,com
orwriteUsat:

Computer Gaming World
I Letter To 'flic Lditor

135 Main Street, Idtlr Floor
San Francisco, CA 94105

Should Have , A Thouoht Of Their^wn.

BY CAMEKS. FOR CAMEEIS.

Circle Reader Service #59 '' ' ‘ '

ment. read myhpe— ”No
/leii’ comole coverage."

LEFT LUGGAGE
DEPARTMENT

Being ;i Icftv, I fed for John
Benner (the reader in CCW''

//14! who lamented the lack of
left-handed jo^ticks). So. let me
recomend a good left-handed
joystick, llie QnickShot (QSZOh
Sk\Tnaster). 'llie throttle is set low
on the left, as are the extra huttons
and turbo switch, and the (rim con-
trols arc sel on the right, so no more
hitting tliem w ith the side ofs oiir
hand when banking left. 'I he grip is
not ver)' special, and only slightly
fonn fitting, hot it is s\anmetrical and
fits the hand w ell, plus it has a rub-
ber palm [)ad. I hope this helps. Left
handed people rule!

Doug Milk

LAP TO THE FUTURE

I laving read your laptop-article in
the April Lssue and having played
Ci\’ ll and CivNct recently, I’d like
to discuss some matters in the com-
puter gaming magazine of my
choice. I have a long esperience in
computer gaming, and 1 think w e
have seen a lot of fantastic games,
just take a look at the CCW I kill of
I'amc. CiVILI/.'illON is one of those
great games of all times, and I think
the two successor games, ClvNicr
and ClV 11, are demonstiating the
direction gaming should take. Oka\;
Civ 11 is a great game and the
improvements made in comparison
to Ci\'ii-i/'AnON are welcome.

But the improvements in Cin Nki'
are e\ en more welcome, heeause
battling it out w ilh real opponents is
infiniteK’ more interesting than pun-
ishing some computer dogbrains.
Better graphics arc fine, but better
graphics don’t mean better game
pla\'. lake one really old game from
Your flail of fame, let’s say

K-\Mi’i-CRiiPP[':,and
include modern-play. And now
compare that game to a - hjpotheti-
eaily -graphicalK' enhanced
K-wiPKCRtiPiT. 2 with streamlined
gameplay, more uniLs, more maps
and .some added featurc.s. W4iieh
game would be the better one?

Or imagine R\I1,R0 .>\d 1\’C00N
w'ilh network capability. Great
game? Right. Wliat about simula-
tions? Do we really have to wail that
long for \V( )RI ,n CiRCUn' II, which
])robably won’t mn [)ro))erly on a
lAtO-machine, when all we need is
World ClRCDri'with network
capability? We do need more games
like CivNi':i; Ni':rML;cii OR
W-VRCRAKP 1 1 (ho]>efully iNLvS'n'R OR
Orion il w ill be of the same kind),
in short, games with multi-player
capability And you don’t need 64
MBofR-Wlanda lYntiumZOOto
make decent games, just look at
Sl’ACtW/Uti:) I k )!, still a first class
choice, if you like to have some fun
with a few' friends. Or take even
1830, where you don’t need even a
network, but can play it iiot-seai.

So the ne.\i logical step in com-
puter gaming is the laptop! A
Pentium 90 or 100, 16MBR/\M,
(|uad-speed CD-ROM, 1 CB hard-
drive, not nece,ssarily a sound-card
(who wants to hear the .sounds of

five machines, when \ ou are nct-
])la\ ing with your friends, ainvvay)
and a nctwork-caal (hopefully
build in). 'f/it/t’slhe gaming
machine of the near future!
Because you won’l find many
people among your friends w'ifli
enough space in Ihcir rooms to
house four de.sktop computers
inch monitors, and yon
w ill find e\'en less who will
w'ant to haul their machines
to their friencLs’ houses or
clubhouse eveiy .second
weekend or so. 'Ihc la|)lop
is the ideal solution, and we i iced
the ])riees of them to come down to
where the)’ are affordable. Maybe
next )'ear, when there are Pentium
50ns or a new generation of 686-
proees,sor.s and the minimum
ret|uiiements for getting a new' game,
running are Pentium-]33.swith 32
MB RAM, lho.se laptops will be
affordable. Itwould he nice, ifwc
then had the right games to play on
those “ridieulousK’ low-tech”
machines.

CImtiaii /entac'//
from the liilenict

III llieiwrdsoflxnigh-ln’sArtc
jolumii ''Ver)’ iiileresliiig!’’ We are
seeing lots of lalrlops begiimiug to
enter the consumer market and, as
you [rrohabl}’ noticed in oursuire}’,a
few of them are useful for gamers.
Most of the games we're seeing at
pres, S’ lime work relalwchwcll with
Toshiba's 410 CD'I ' with P-90,

TIP SHEET

Y)u need a hint and tip
.section!

ilodrigo I'errer
Cromwell, CT

I /oH's this for sen'icc?

I lints and tips met}’ be
found in the CG 'lips box
at the conclusion of each

genre specijic columiiisl's ranting and
rcMiig . '/ his wcT}’. fans of e\'er\’ genre
get something in e\'ei)’ issue. \’\f also
offer a ‘"I 'ip of the Do}" on otirAOl ,
edition oj the magazine: Kcoword:

CCW.

SPOUSAL DISUSE

/\re there anv sup])or( groups for
neglected .spouses of eoi nputer
gamers?

Noah Saecker
Oshkosh, Wl

No. hut our Sex Addicts
Anonymous chapter has volunteered
to start one.

SAGE ADVICE

'llie best ad\ice \’ou could gi\e
computer game hm ers loclay is to
aKvays W'ait four-six months after a
game's initial relea.se before busing
it. 'lliis allows: a) time to read the
res'iew in CCW;b) time for the vl, I
patch file to be released: and c) lime
to shop for the be.st price, I hev’ll
base all the fun evervonc el.se ha.s,
but much le,ss a^ravalion!

leffPelraska

NewBoston.MI

Oka}’, I'll pa.ss this on, but you
lurwto explain the cash (low problem
to the Cl'Os at the game publishers.
Vm''d shoot us.

CORRECTION

It has come to our attention that
the Cnslal xikc Series l-H) sound
card pictured on page SO of our june
issue was not a Crystal <ike Series
HO. I lere is the correct picture.

’ri'o€$ or

Gam

-SouRce: pc Data. January 1996

...THE Dl

GAME

OF ALL TIME

— Next Generation

Computer Gaming World

•COMPUTER GAMING WORLD
MARCH 1996

IT KICKS ASS

•PC Gamer

“It’s the reason we

DON’T HAVE SEX ANYMORE!

— Actual quote prom
THE WIFE OF A TECH
Support caller

Now Available!
Warcraft II-
Beyond the dark Portal

ir 24 ALL-NEW SCENARIOS
ir SO CUSTOM MAPS

ic STUNNING NEW 3-D
CINEMATIC SEQUENCES
Available at retailers natlonwlile.

Circle Reader Service ‘>265

WWW.BLJ22ARD.COM

800-953-SN0W

The Wf«fs/s WORLD will tantalize rotiR senses,

TRUE INTRIGUE, HYSTERY. AND EXCrTEMENT IN tHt WlZARMY^'
TRADITION. WeMESK.RELIES ON REASON ANp:t'NqpRPORAT£S
PUZZLES THAT ARE DESIGNED TO MAKE ,S£WS£; - ' ;

Real-time combat earns a new oESCRipnoN'iN NiMcas..
Responsive! Battles are a test-op your wits, strategy,

AND RESPONSES, Not JUST A WORKOUT FOR YOUR MOUSE
FINGER. Prepare youwelf for some hair raising •:
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Four CDs And over 10,000 frames of stunning SVGA
graphics paint a picture of a world in turmoil. Over 40

DETAILED 3D CREATURES HELP MAKE THAT TURMOIL VCSY REAL.

Experience the world of Nemesis from an unexpecYeb,"

VIEW — THROUGH THE EYES OF A CHARACTER, WITH CHARACTeL

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Tel: (315) 393-6633 Fax: (315) 393-1525
E-mail: 76711.33@C0MPUSERVE.COM

WWW.SIR-TECH.COM

Wizardry is a registered trademark of Sir-tech Software Inc.

' i'

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advEnture

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« <)»

TJiE: Wizardry SERIES has sold millions of copies world
L;Wide. This FALL, SiRTECH ushers in Nemesis, the world's
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3jAME;A RRODUCTEARNS, AND NeHESIS HAS BEEN PUT THROUGH
■^fwRlNGERywj,: ;;

feE;2,5:GIGABYTES (4 CDs) OF INTENSE VIRTUAL WORLDS
'Siting new MEANING TO the phrase "epic STORY." Nemesis
/COMBINES .OVER. 10,000 FRAMES OF ORIGINAL 3D ART AND
SVGA ANIMATIONS, WITH THE EXCITEMENT OF REAL TIME
INTERACnON.

This IS AN intense story about virtual beings with real
i^ES AND, real ENEMIES AND DANGER AT EVERY TURN. ThE
Nemesis experience marks the beginning of yet another
.Wizardry Adventure.

Circle Reader Service HISS

READ.ME

Attack Of The Game Nets

Over 10 Companies Jostle For Turf In Virtual Playgrounds

everal

teams are

the field

of on-line

gaming,

and the

battle for players is about to
begin. Never before have
gamers had so many multi-play-
er gaming options with such a

designs original multiplayer con-
tent and offers third-party
games on its ARIES server, is
now accessible in several new
ways. Now, Air Warrior II and
BahleTech; Solaris (two graphi-
cal online games) will be avail-
able through CompuServe,
Earthlink {direct Internet con-
nection), GEnie and AOL.

Individual publishers also
introduced online strategies at
E3. Starwave

high level of graphics and fast-
paced action. This is due, in
part, to the efforts of first-rate
game publishers such as
EA/Origin, Mindscape, Blizzard
and Interplay to bring com-
pelling new content on-line. Add
greater accessibility to that
equation with new networks like
TEN, Mpath, Engage and GTE,
as well as a myriad of Internet
Service Providers (ISPs) to help
gamers reach those systems,
and you have the makings of a
gaming revolution.

At this year’s E3 show, even
the old-timers had interesting
news. Kesmal Corporation has
been doing on-line gaming
longer than virtually anyone and
they had several important
announcements. The Virginia-
based company, which both

Productions,
the provider of
the ESPN
Sports Center
web site,
unveiled its
children's prod-
uct, Castle
Infinity. Castle
Infinity will be a
CD-ROM prod-
uct which will
play animated sequences from
the CD as it launches to the
web Of even when there are dis-

BATTLETECH: SOLARIS If you thought
Multiplayer BattleTech was slow and
crude, you should see the frenzied death
matches in BattleTech: Solaris.

vein, Blizzard Entertainment has
designed Diablo with an internet
access link built into the inter-
face. One click and you’re con-
nected with their battle.net serv-
er, a free service for gamers
who have Internet access.

EA and Origin will expand the
franchises of two oi their most
successful packaged games
with Ultima Online for fantasy
buffs and Janes’ Online for flight
Sim fans. These will not merely
be extensions of boxed games,

but will feature dynamic game
worlds with social structures,
designed quests/campaigns,
and mini-quests and missions
that arise from the characteris-
tics of the worlds themselves.

Slightly ditlerent is the
approach of GTE’s Siege. This
game on GTE’s upcoming
Internet service will link a mul-
tiplayer adventure and strategy
game to a CD-ROM which is,
in turn, tied to a monthly

continued on page 38 ...

gere are some of the hottest prod-
Sucts on the market, as well as

the ones that frankly ain’t so hot.
Reviews for most are coming soon.

BATTLE ISLE 2220

The Ihird installment of the Battle Isle
[ series from Blue Byte, a German pub-
1 lisher, can be fun, challenging and
somewhat addictive. But it can also be
irritating, frustrating and monotonous. Battle

Isle 2220 comes on two CDs, mostly
because this installment comes with over a
gigabyte of multimedia film and audio. The
music is good, but the acting is amateurish,
with some bland dialogue. The plot is banal
and doesn’t do much for the game. More
often than not, it serves only to mislead and
confuse the player, in concept, this turn-
based game offers strategic planning, tacti-
cal-level warfare with 64 different land, air
and sea units, weather effects and the ability
to manage energy, material and military
resources throughout a campaign. In execu-
tion, only players who are heavily into micro-
management and who are patient enough to
repeatedly slog through long, drawn-out bat-

READ.ME

OKE REALLY
FAST COW

Gateway Pentium 200 Has The Beef

ntel has upped the processor
speed ante again, this time with a
200-MHz Pentium chip. If you
recently spent a wad of cash on a
133-MHz or faster Pentium, don’t worry,
you’re not being left in the dust. Due to

an incremental speed update over its
recent predecessors.

That said, Gateway 2000’s new P5-
200CDR is still the fastest PC we’ve test-
ed yet. And Gateway's not just depending
on processor speed to sell this new

the limitations of the Pentium architec-
ture (namely, that no Pentium chip talks
to the motherboard any faster than 66
MHz), the 200-MHz P5 chip offers only

$3,999 tower of power. It’s packed (for
the most part) with top-of-the-line compo-
nents that will make this tiger purr when
continued on page 40 ...

■ PLAYING LATELY?]

Just two months after its debut, Civilization II takes the
number one spot, knocking Warcraft II into second place
after four months at the top. While
Dike Nukem 3D continues to climb
steadily. Panzer General returns to the
chart after a few month’s absence and
Fantasy General enters at number
nine. Be sure to send in your poll card,
so we know which games are feeding your addiction this
month.

Last Mortths
Month On Chart

1. Civilization II (Microprose) 5

Z Warcraft II (Blizzard)

3. Duke Nukem 3D (3D Realms)/

4. Steel Panther (SSI)

5. Command & Conquer

(VIrgIn/Westwood)

6. Wing Commander IV

(Origin)

7. Heroes of Might and Magic

(New World Computing) 6

8. Panzer General (SSI)

9. Fantasy General (SSI)

10. MechWarrior 2 (Activsion)

ties in search of a winning solution will find
Bahle Isle 2220 worth their [m.-Pa! Miller
Blue Byte (847)534-7950
PC CD-ROM
Reader Service #301

TREASURE QUEST

Sirius is offering a $1 million prize to
the first person who completes this
puzzle: and believe me, if you can
solve it, you deserve every penny. The problem is
that with such a huge prize at stake, Sirius has to
make it pretty damn hard for anyone to win, in
fact, they’re really not giving much away at all
Your first puzzle is figuring out just how to play.
The obiect is to search the house of the late pro-
fessor Jonathon William Faulkner following some
vague inslructions left in his will. As you navigate
through an extravagant mansion aiming for "hot

spots” that will trigger audio/video hints or lead
you into other rooms, you’ll find cryplic clues,
complicated word puzzles and cryptograms.
Deciphering each of these does not in itself solve
the puzzle; you must keep note of any other snip-
pets you pick up along the way and piece them
together to form an overall conclusion. Gameplay
is slow; after a few frustrating hours I felt no clos-
er to the solution. However, the clearly executed

graphics, including video footage of Star Trek
Deep Space Nine's Terry Farrell as your spiritual
guide, create a visually compelling experience.
Curiosity may tempt me back for another peek,
but this challenge is really for dedicated puzzle
gamers only.- C. Panther
Sirius Publishing, (602) 951-3288;

PC CD-ROM
Reader Service #303

VIRTUAL SNOOKER

If you enjoyed Virtual Pool, then chances are
you’ll enjoy Interplay’s Virtual Snooker, even

though (or perhaps, because) the table
'■ is more forgiving than the real thing.

W The mechanics of cue control are
^ very intuitive. Using the mouse and the
"S” key lets you simulate the stroking movement
of the cue. You can increase or decrease the

JULY 1996

Avoid The Traffic Jam

Intel Reroutes 3D Graphics Traffic To The Main Bus

0 matter how
wide the bus,
computer games
will find a way to
clog It. As 3-D graphics boards
head our way, vendors and title
developers are discovering that

the PCI bus can actually be a
performance bottleneck. When
an application passes data in the
3-D pipeline from the CPU to a
3D accelerator after a scene's
geometry setup, the PCI bus can
impede performance-even with
its 80- to 100-f MB/sec of band-
vddth. To remedy the problem,
Intel announced at the Windows
Hardware Engineering
Conference (WinHEC) a plan to

have graphics accelerators use
the main memory/CPU bus
itself. Intel is calling the new
interface the Accelerated
Graphics Port (AGP).

AGP promises to allow graph-
ics accelerators to take advan-
tage of the main
memory bus’ 450-f
MB/sec bandwidth,
and alleviate bottle-
necks on the PCI bus.
An added advantage
of this implementation
is more PCI bus
bandwidth left over for
other devices like hard-disk con-
trollers, network cards, and a lit-
tle down the road, sound cards.
Although AGPequipped mother-
boards won’t ship until mid-
1997, they’ll allow game devel-
opers to build more complex,
polygon-intensive scenes into
their titles, allowing them to
more accurately model real-
world scenes.

Intel has inked a deal with

Ziff-Davis Becomes
#1 Game Magazine
Pubiisher with
Purchase of Sendai

Lockheed-Martin to incorporate
LM's Real 3D chip on Intel
motherboards in the second
half of 1997. The chip will use
the AGP interface, and will also
deliver 2D graphics as well as
digital video. The move is seen
by some as hostile toward third-
party graphics-hardware ven-
dors, since the LM-Intel solu-
tion could obviate the need for
add-in graphics hardware. But
the AGP specification does
have provisions for an
AGP slot for add-in
cards, and several
prominent graphics
chip makers have
announced their intent
to use AGP for future
products.

In the meantime, the PCI
bus should provide plenty of
bandwidth for first-generation 3D
games, and AGP will hopefully
pave the way for even more com-
pelling titles late next year,

-Dave Salvator

Publishing Group

A dding seven new game maga-^
zine titles to its flagship^
gaming publication, <

Computer Gaming World,"'

Ziff-Davis Publishing has become the__^
dominant force in publishing maga- <
zines about interactive entertainment. Z-’’

0 announced its purchase of the Sendai’^
Publishing Group [Electronic Gaming Monthly, ”
CyberSports. Computer Game Review, Intelligent
Gamer, PSX, Internet Underground, and EGM2}
on 9,1996.

Jon Lane, former publisher of
Computer Gaming World, will
become the Group Publisher of the
Sendai Publications Group, while Steve
Harris, founder/publisher of the
Sendai Group, will become a Z-D
vice-president and focus on electron-
publishing. Dale Strang, former associ-
ate publisher of PC Games and publisher of
Amiga World and Desktop Video magazines, is
the new publisher of Computer Gaming World.

As of press time, Z-0 announced that it would
no longer be publishing Computer Game Review
and that subscriptions and ad pages would be
roiled into Computer Gaming World.

the exact path the cue and target balls will take
upon impact, greatly assisting those of us who
failed geometry class. The game sports
modem play and allows two hot-seat players.
Although system requirements advise only a
single-speed CD-ROM drive, my double-speed
drive stuttered on the helpful FMV tutorials,

-J. Anderson
Interplay, (714) 553-6655;

PC CD-ROM
Reader Service #302

force with which you hit the ball through your
mouse movement. Other key combinations
allow you to increase the angle of the cue, or
move the tip to apply left and right english as
well as top spin and backspin to control
rebounds. Interplay guarantees that Virtual
Snooker will improve your real game, and '
we don’t doubt it. The tracking option shows

BATTLEGROUND:

WATERLOO

In between the assaults at Gettysburg and
Shiloh, the General Staff at Talonsott have
decreed that our next wargaming objective
shall be none other than Waterloo,
arguably the most famous battle in histo-

ry, The interface remains familiar, and the graph-
ics are so polished that even the toughest drill
sergeant could scarcely find fault. The march of
proud French infantry toward La Haye Sainte,
the bitter struggle for the walled chateaux of
Hougomont, massed musket fire giving way to
bayonet charges-it’s all here, in a luscious set-
ting that contrasts sharply with the determined

\S#'

HYPER

The Drome. Where athletes are ruthless engines of destruction. The sport
IS VIOLENT. The tactics are brutal. And pain is a part of the game. But the
over-riding FACTOR IS SPEED. FOR THIS GAME IS SET AT A RELENTLESS PACE.
HYPERBLADE - THE FUTURE OF SPORTS. ENTER THE DROME...AT YOUR OWN RISK.

The Drome Opens Summer '96.
Available on HS-D0S^ywiNDOWS'’95 CD-ROM.

Visit the Drome at http://activision.com.

I/I//Z

AdiVraoN.

Circle Reader Service 1139
Developed by Wizbang! Software Productions
IN collaboration with Activision.

ACIIVISION IS A KIWS11HH1 IMAIll MKK AW) HYI'I Kill ADI IS A IHADlfWRA 01 ACIIVISIOH. Iw.. ■ 1906 AC IIVISIIHI. lllC. Vl/HANG' IS A HI GISILRI p IRADlHAHA ()• Wl/HAIIC' SOI IHAHt PROUUClinHS. IHC-

IS NEW CHALLENGING MISSIONS.
10 NEW MULTIPLAYER MAPS.

Circle Reader Service »181

Comm.in(J S Conquer and CoiTvnand S Conquer; The Coven Oporntions arc rc(}islcnjd IrndcmarKs at Wcshvood Studios. Inc. .■ 1905. 1996 Westwood Studkjs. Inc All nfll'ts reserved. Virgin is .1 legrslcicd li.idcmarK ol Vngm Entcq'-isos. l.td.

ON THE SHELF^

... continued from page 32
comic book. The comic will
be written and inked by veter-
an artist Jim Lee and is

DIABLO
Gamers who
purchase
Blizzard's
hot new
RPG can
clobber
each other
online, all
they want,
for free.

expected to be in the vein of
such combat and superhero
teams as WildC.A.T.S.,
Welworks, Team 1 and
Slormwalch.

Similar to Ultima Online are
the multiplayer MUD games.
These have, by their nature,
developed into online communi-
ties. One such game is
Archetype Interactive’s Meridian
59 (described in this issue’s
“Hands On” portion of our
Game Track section). Recently
acquired by 3D0, Archetype
hasn’t fully fieshed-out its busi-
ness model.

Game Packagers

A new type of service is the
game aggregator or packager.
Although some of these ser-
vices will develop their own
games, their early business plan
is to gather together a critical
mass of pre-existing products
and place them on a system
where gamers can find ready
opponents for familiar boxed
games. The newest in the field
is Interplay's ENGAGE, an
online gaming service which
will allow access through AOL,
Concentric, Prodigy and Time-
Warner. Hoping to bill itself as
the "HBO of online gaming,”
ENGAGE has deals with
Caesar’s Palace, MCA, the
Improv comedy clubs, Maxis,
Blizzard, and of course Interplay
to provide content. This
includes exclusives on multi-
player Jurassic Park II, Virtual
Pool, Castles II, SimCity 2000
and Warcraft II, among others.

Mpath plans to allow access
through Internet Service Providers
(ISPs) like MCI, Netcom, PSINet,
and UUNet's Alternet in order to
allow gamers to play multiplayer
extensions of packaged games

MERIDIAN 59 Building a sense of cama-
raderie and community, many players of
Archetype’s Meridian 59 have formed
their own secret guilds.

(New World
Computing's
Chaos

Overlords just
released with
that capability),
as well as their
own designs.

Since SegaSoft
recently invested
heavily in Mpath,
we'll also expect to
see a large chunk
ot action games
appearing on the web through this
service. One feature Mpath is pro-
moting from the first is their real-
time speech capability.

The Total Entertainment Network
(TEN) allows you to use your
own ISP or access them directly
for games which are, primarily,
multi-player extensions ot pack-
aged games. However, TEN has
an incredible lineup. They have
an exclusive with 3D Realms for
several years (Duke Nukem 3D,
Blood, Shadow Warriors) and
already have Duke and Blizzard’s
original Warcraft up and run-
ning. Eventually, you’ll be able
to fly Falcon 4 and play Magic:
The Gathering over TEN.

Judge and Jury

Frankly, the jury is slill out as
to which approach to online
gaming will win out. Our suspi-
cion is that the overall mass of
gamers will split into predomi-
nantly two groups: 1) those who
are looking for more competi-
tion and 2) those who are look-
ing for more community. We
suspect that the former will
gravitale toward the game pack-
agers and the latter will be
atlracted to the game makers.
We also suspect that there will
always be room for both. Of
course, gamer dollars will be
the ullimate arbiter. -V.
Anderson andJ. Wilson

charges ot Bonaparte's best and the desperate
defense of the Anglo-Allied forces under
Wellington. Better Al, improved leader modeling,
a richer tactical feel, and of course, cavalry
charges-what more could you want? Old Boney
himself would be proud to lead this tine game
into battie.— T Coleman
TalonSoft, Inc.. (410) 933-9191;

PC CD-ROM
Reader Service #304

DEATHKINCS OF THE
DARK CITADEL

Oeathkings of the Dark Citadel is billed as an
expansion pack for Hexen. These days where new
3D first-person perspective games

I with new features, weapons, and

movement directions, I would expect more from

an expansion pack than just new maps.
Unfortunately, that is all Deathkings has to offer.
Don't get me wrong-the new episode and
deathmatch levels on this disk are very well done.
If you think Hexen is the best game on the mar-
ket, then you will want to own Deathkings. It has
the same great graphics, the same eerie feeling,
the same spooky sound effects, and the same
gruesome creatures trying to pulverize you as the
original. The only problem is that the “same-
ness" completely ruins the excitement of having

new worlds to conquer. Shortly after starting
Deathkings, I found my initial excilement was
gone and a sense ol been there, done (hat had
taken over. Had this episode contained new ene-
mies, weapons, and characters to choose from it
would have been a delight. While changing most
of the elements of Hexen would lake a lot of
development time (which could be used on other
projects), one has to wonder why, if you aren’t
going to do the job right, you would want to do it
at all,-G. Fodune
id Soltware, (214) 613-3589;

PC CD-ROM
Reader Service #307

CYBERIA 2

Like a bad moment from the movie Groundhog
Day. Zak's back in this sequel that
promises more of the same. Exactly

JULY 1996

You blasted your way -
through, an onslaught of
undead marines and

hell- spa vmed hordes in
Doom, Ultimate Doom and u

Doom II. How you can EB.
retire, right? hrongo

Seems flesh-eating mutants
have the mortality rate

of Q oookroach and are

alive and hioking in Pinal
Doora — the last of the Bl

legendary Doom products.
It’s tv/o new 32-level,'^
episodes complete v/ith

nev/ stories (Evllution.

& The Plutonia Experiment),
new fri^teningly realistic
graphics and new pulse-

pounding music. It’s time
to finish what you started.

MUTANT ZOMBI

n jf ^ Dlstfibulad by , '

(yy GT Interactive Software r ;

SOTOWWe ^ 16 EAST 40TH ST. N£WVORK,HY 10016

Rnal DOOM"" 01996 Id ^fiware, Inc. All Bights Reserved. Cteated and Published by Id Solhvare, Inc. Dislrfcuted by GTlfile*«iveSo1iwareCorp. AH trademarks.

Ena ef story.

' the prc^rty of their respective companies.

Circle Reader Service §242

ON THE SHELF *

continued from page 33
running the most demanding
games.

Along with the 200-MHz
Pentium chip, the P5-200CDR
also uses the newest Intel
Pentium support chips and
SDRAM {Synchronous
Dynamic RAM) memory chips;
the memory is in DIMM pack-
ages, so you can expand one
DIMM at a time, instead of in
pairs as is required with
SIMMs. You’ll also find512Kof
synchronous cache memory.

All this adds up to give the sys-
tem processing performance
about 20 percent faster than
our baseline Zephyr Onyx 166-
MHz system, but only about 10
percent faster than the blazing
Falcon Northwest P166.

The peripheral list is what
makes the P5-200CDR stand
out. The most original addition
is a 4X CD-ROM reader/2X
writer that can be used to create
your own CD-ROMs. Whether
you want to create a quick-
install backup of your hard

P(rfornioM((oinporison:Got(uiQ](v$.Z(pli]fr

GatewEV P5-200CDR Zephyr Onyx P166 How Gateway Rates

Benchmark

1 CPUmark16

366

305

20% faster I

CPUmark 32

367

300

22% faster

Graphics WinMark 96
l800x600x65K1

24.7

1% slower ■

Disk WinMark 96

1000 ■■

657

52% faster

1 CD-ROM WinMark 96

790

609

30% faster |

Price

$3,999

$4,080

2% less

drive, create your own audio
CDs, or get that 400MB down-
load collection off your hard
disk, you'll find the CD-ROM
writer a valuable tool. Of course,
4X speed is passe as far as
gamers are concerned, so
Gateway has also included a
conventional Wearnes 8X CD-
ROM.

Although Wearnes isn’t
exactly a household name.
Gateway hasn’t skimped on
the other components. Video
is provided by a speedy 2MB
Matrox MGA Millenium card,
known for providing top-notch
Windows and DOS perfor-
mance. Audio is provided by
an Ensoniq SoundScape VIVO
card, which sports wavetable
audio (and sounds pretty
good considering it has but
1MB of ROM).

Wrapping up the package is
a 17-inch Vivilron monitor, 104-
key keyboard, and room-shak-
ing Altec Lansing ACS 400
speaker and subwoofer pack-

age. It’s game-ready with a
Gravis Gamepad, but you’ll like-
ly want to replace that with a
real joystick.

The pre-production unit I
evaluated was very impressive
for the most part. Unfortunately,
driver problems kept the
Wearnes CD-ROM from working
under DOS, and the CD-R was-
n’t ready in time for the preview,
so our tests were limited to Win
95. Performance there was
exemplary, though, even when
running DOS games under Win
95. The only other glitch was a
jumpy joystick reading-likely
the SoundScape card not liking
the system’s blazing speed. But
considering the amount of stuff
you’re getting here for $3,999,
another $25 for a dedicated
game card doesn’t seem unrea-
sonable. Assuming the CD-ROM
driver problems are worked out
before the machine ships, this
looks like a new contender for
the Ultimate Game Rig title.
-Denny Atkin

like its predecessor, Cyberia 2 requires you to
shoot through a series of rail-riding action-
arcade sequences to reach the next "milestone."
Again, there is no Save function. As in the
movie and Cyberia, if you fail, the sequence
begins again; each time starting with the title
screen to drive home that reiterative feeling.

The game play Is limited to aiming and firing
the gun, and (in the brief moments when you
actually control Zak) deciding which direction to
turn. If you choose the wrong path, Zak’s Imme-
diately killed, and you must start the sequence
again-yes, back to the title screen. Through the
mundane process of trial and error, you eventu-
ally make the right decision or learn the exact
firing sequence and advance to the next mile-

stone-not a very rewarding experience. The
graphics and animation are once again fluid
and beautiful, but that didn’t make a good
game the first time around. -J, Anderson
Xatrix Entertainment, (800) 531-2343;

PC CD-ROM
Reader Service #308

CHAOS OVERLORDS

Gang warfare comes home to your PC in New
World Computing's latest strategy title. Chaos
Overlords. The story is simple: In the
future, law and order disentegrates, leav-
ing cities under gang rule. As one of the
gang lords, you've got to be the last one stand-
ing when the dust settles. Since we previewed the
game in February (Hands On, CGW #139), not
much has changed. The interface is still confus-
ing and very daunting to newcomers. You’ll have
to read the manual to find out how to play, but
even the manual doesn’t explain gameplay
mechanics adequately. The game also starts out
fairly slow, which, combined with the cryptic

interface, will turn off many players. In fairness.
Chaos Overlords has all the ingredients of a strat-
egy title, such as combat, tech research and con-
quest of different sectors in the city grid, but it
just isn’t that fun. Hard-core gamers and those
enamored with the idea of playing a ganglord
might find the will to trudge through this title (and
in so doing find a decent game under all the
problems), but most will find the experience less
than thriliing.-£ Chin
New World Computing. (818) 889-5600;

PC CD-ROM and Mac
Reader Service #309

Experience nation building at its best

Europe's other conquering heroes are in pursuit of the same glory.

Conquest of the New World™ is a single or multi-player strategy game where you're
in command of the explorers, settlers, and mercenary soldiers destined to survey the land,
to build new colonies, and to protect your emerging nation. As you search for new rivers
and mountains, you'll come across other colonies and encounter friendly and hostile
native tribes. Your growing nation is constantly at the mercy of world events and the endless
threat of surprise attacks.

Only through a perfect balance of diplomacy, exploration, trade and warfare can you
build the ultimate nation, declare independence, and experience the true power of Conquest.

“Conquest of the New World

has beauty, brains & depth” -sin,i.:gywu.

Single or Multi-player action for up to 6 over a
network & head-to-head with a modem

Colonies come to life in stunning SVQA graphics
and exciting 3D animations

Combat explodes with the echoing blasts of I
infantry, cavalry & cannons II

■mM RDM

-ei intantry, cavalry & cannons ,

— Computer Gaming World I ages 6-^ | Br(..v.Mt3ts.K)i

Chart your course for the Interplay WEB site (http://www.interplay.com) and download the interactive demo.

All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Cirde Render Service //63

Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II

CAME TRACK

SIGHTINGS

H ere’s an early look at the space invaders that will be vying for
ri

I room on your hard drive. Some of these games are still months

away, and they aren't even playable yet, but at least you can see
what they look like, and get an idea what their intentions are.

I n this stunning sequel to Dark Forces. LucasArts
has pulled out all the stops to create a truly awe-
some 3D experience;

LucasArts showed us a pre-alpha version of
the game on a PI 66 equipped with a 3D graphics
board, and the visuals
were incredible. The envi-
ronment and characters
are constructed complete-
ly of 3D, texture-mapped,
polygons, and the game
takes advantage of 3D
boards to eliminate
jagged linesor pixellated
graphics at close range.

The 3D boards also
enable dynamic light-sourcing which illuminates
darkened corriders with laser fire. Even the unen-
hanced version is graphically appealing, with visu-
. ais comparable to Duke Nukem 3D, Apart from the
beautiful graphics, Jedi Knight should bring more
enemies to the table, including an intimidating

Walker, so we'll have more to shoot at than Storm
Troopers. Jedi Knight continues the story of Kyle Kartan,
the mercenary from Dark Forces, as he trains to
become a Jedi. As he progresses in training, new pow-
ers of the Force will be available to him, including the

ability to wield a light saber. In addition to the new
weapons, new monsters, breath-taking graphics and a
full 3D environment, Jedi Knight is multi-player capable,
over network, modem or direct link. And last but not
least, you wil! actually be able to save your games. Will
wonders never cease?-£ Chin

F-22 Lightning II

I n the coming glut of flight
simulations based on the
Lockheed’s new F-22 fighter,
NovaLogic’s looks to be a
surprise standout. Terrain that
looks even better than EF2000’s
is complemented by the best
looking texture-mapped aircraft

yet seen in a PC sim.

F-22 Lightning II is geared at
both beginners and experienced
Sim pilots. Like EF2000,
NovaLogic plans to use this 21®^-

century jet’s sophisticated pilot
aids to keep it simple, rather
than dumbing down the sim.

Look for a series of canned
missions here, as well as a US
Navy FiGHTERS-slyle quick mis-
sion editor. The stand-out fea-
ture, though, may be the net-
work play. If you’re the ultra-seri-
ous sim type who wears a
green bag flight suit to net
games, you’ll probably want to
look elsewhere. In the alpha ver-
sion we flew, being killed in a
net game would only disable
your aircraft’s controls for a few
seconds, rather than sending
you back to the runway for a
long flight back to the action.
Score one for the fun factor, at
the expense of a little believabili-
ly. Mixing it up with other
humans flying F-22s (and who
have smart F-15 wingmen),

while simultaneously fending off
computer-controlled MiG-23s
and Su-27s, was a blast. Two-
player cooperative missions are
also planned.

We're anxious to
fly this again, but
you'll have to wait
until the fourth
quarter of the year
to find if ready for
takeoff. -D, Atkin

rience while roaming through
dark, undead-infested corridors.
In Blizzard’s tribute to the clas-
sic dungeon romps like Rogue,
several key features separate
this RPG from others in the
genre are: its isometric look,
similar to Crusader’s interface;
graphics that look like beautiful
prerendered artwork: and multi-
player capability. While RPGs
have previously been strictly
single-player, Diablo lets you
explore its dungeons with up to
three others. For those who
loved old table-top RPGs where
interaction with other players
was key. Diablo looks like it
could be the RPG that finally
captures the true feel of those
classic D&D adventures, CGW
was able to see the first lew lev-
els of Diablo, crammed with
treasure chests and monsters,
and even with all the complicat-
ed elements and lush graphics,
the action was still smooth and
fluid. With eye-catching

Diablo

K hat before was a
drought in PC RPGs
will soon be quenched
by a Blizzard ...or
raltier, an RPG from Blizzard.
Diablo is a role-playing game
with a hefty action element. You
are a lone hero who begins play
in a dungeon, collecting items,
finding spells and gaining expe-

graphics, a clean
and intuitive interface (complete
with an on-screen information
bar that gives immediate data
on all items and monsters), and
the welcome ability to roam
dungeons with friends, Diablo
looks like if could be the hit
RPG to revive this weak
genre.-f. Chin

CAHE TRACK

Into The Shadows

I NTO The Shadows is one of fhe
mosl impressive new 3D titles
wending its way to market, and it
tfoesrr'/requireaSD graphic
accelerator. Boasting a true 3D
engine with impressive iight-sourc-
ing and high-res graphics, it's a
remarkable advancement over previ-
ous dungeon romps. The D&D-style
adventure/action game is set in a
convincingly detailed castle, laced

with shadows and light, where the
player battles ugly denizens with a
variety of medieval weapons.
Dynamic panning has been used to
deepen the sense of immersion, to
better etfect than that seen in Alone

In The Dark. Although some of the
gameplay involves searching for keys
and special items, the main focus is
action: large, motion-captured char-
acters hack enemies in a variety of
thrusts, swings and crushing death
blows. Not only are the movements
fluid and realistic, but special dou-
bling techniques create the illusion
that the polygonal characters are
more detailed than they really are.
The game's graphics engine has
been in devel-
opment for
three years, and
it looks superb.
There’s only
one problem:
there isn’t a
drop of blood
anywhere.
Perhaps it will
be added later,
but our under-
standing is that Scavenger doesn't
have the stomach for it. Despite this,
the game looks incredible, it’s very
fast, and it will reportedly support up
to eight players on a net. Keep your
eyes on this one. -/(. Brown

B etrayal at Krondor fans who felt betrayed by
Sierra’s decision to abandon the property can final-
ly look forward to a sequel, 7th Level, designers of
Monty Python’s Complete Waste of Time and
Monty FYthon & the Holy Grail, is working on the next
adventure in Raymond E. Feist's world of Midkemia.

As you’d expect, the graphic quality of the
sequel far surpasses that of
Betrayal at
Krondor, with
rendered back-
grounds and
real-time 2D and
3D animation.

The designers are
also working on
what they describe
as a “tactically-com-
plex," third-person, turn-based combat system, although
we haven’t been able to see its implementation yet.

This playable scene depicting a pretty shopkeeper is
an example of the game’s graphic detail. Her shop, the
Golden Grimoire, offers rare mystical herbs, potions and
books to aid players in their quest to recover the Tear of
the Gods. Players will have to solve the mysteries of the
Tear’s disappearance to finish the game, but-like many
of Krondor’s inhabitanis-she conceals deeper motiva-
tions. Feist is reportedly pleased with the character
development in the game, and if that’s indeed the case,
his tans probably will be. \oo.-K. Brown

HANDS ON

T hese are the products in development we’ve actually spent I titles in the Pipeline, and they are complete enough to actually tell

some time with. They represent some of the most interesting i how they’re going to play. Most should be released soon.

Shadows Over Riva

hen Sir-Tech
Software discov-
ered Germany’s
Attic Software, it
was a perfect
match because

one of (he founding companies in (he com-
puter role-playing genre was partnering
with the computer publisher of one of
Germany’s favorite role-playing games-
Das Schwarzs Auge {The Black Eye). Sir-
Tech has been regularly publishing the series of German role-playing games
as the Realms of Arkania series in the U.S. Shadows Over Riva is the third
installment in this series. Playing the German version of the demo, we’ve
discovered that the game system is still intact while the graphics and sound
effects have improved. This time, an Ultimate Bad Guy named Holberker

seems to be inciting the Ore population
toward violence. Some claim that Holberker
is the product of a dark mage who crossed
a half-elf and an ore. By exploring a two-
and-a-half dimensional world (it usually acts
like true 3D, but you occasionally get hung
up on texture maps where the collision

detection doesn't quite
work correctly), the
party must stop
Holberker in order to
stop the ore incur-
sions. -J. Wilson
Sir-Tech Software,
(315) 393-1525;

PC CD-ROM

JULY 1996

HANDS ON

PIPELINE

^Grand Prix II

W e've been
getting a
steady feed
of increas-
ingly imposing Papyrus racing
Sims since the release of the
Geoff Crammond-designed
World Circuit nearly four years

ago, but race sim fans will soon
be served an appetizing change
of fare. Crammond and his team
have been cooking up a
Formula 1 racing brew in Grand
Prix II.

Reminiscent of its revered
predecessor, but with a refined
driving model and ridiculously
good Al for more authentic fla-
vor, GP II is a sure-fire winner.
Not so difficult as to become

frustrating for journeymen, and
still driveable with a joystick, GP
II nevertheless is a tougher
experience than World Circuit,
with an accent on driver consis-
tency and wheelspin control.

Tires break away and slide
under heavy braking and sudden
acceleration, cars drift through

turns before suddenly grabbing,
and opponents really seem to
interact with you. This may
include drivers who "crack" and
spin off the track when you’ve
been riding their rear wing, and
backmarkers who politely let you
by! The beta version isn’t rife
with blow-apart machinery or
smoke, but does feature speed-
killing sand traps, curbs that'll
momentarily elevate tires, and

collisions that launch vehicles
skyward. (Buyer beware: This
effect often had me flipping
above the track for half a minute
or so, and needs to be toned way
down before release.)

A multitude of options range
from ultra-advanced control
device preferences to in-depth
car setup elements such as
spring stiffness and anti-roll bar
tension, it’s a thorough and com-
plete package, with an exquisite
SVGA mode that’s hellaciously
fast at low detail (a satisfactory
VGA alternative), real drivers and
teams, and many of the cher-
ished World Circuit elements
(monitoring from the other guy’s
cockpit, instantly posted fast
laps, one-joystick multi-player
mode, flag-waving turnworkers)
left intact. With some late-beta-
tweaks. Grand Prix II should be
one scorching hot product
indeed. -Gordon Goble

World Circuit Racing/
MicroProse, (800) 695-4263.

PC CD-ROIVI

larger, "real” world. You can
choose to be good or evil, with
different consequences for each.
Your actions affect the commu-
nity; therefore.

^Meridian 59

T his 3D adventure
game by
Archetype
Interactive cur-
rently has around 12,000
avid players worldwide. You
determine your character’s
appearance, expressions,
attributes, and magical skills.
And, as you exercise your tal-
ents, they improve and mature.
Hunt for treasures, tight mon-
sters, cast spells and join
secret guilds, all while explor-
ing the Great Halls, the country-
side and the Underworld.

The game has several small
quests that help initiate the new
player and prepare him for the

every visit to this on-line envi-
ronment promises to be a differ-
ent experience. In the true sense
of community. Guilds of player
characters have emerged: some
which protect new players, some

which savagely pillage and
plunder, andstill others which
will safeguard your treasures.

In constant development and
growth. Meridian 59 currently
consists of five cities separated
by forests, plains, rivers, and
mountains. The text-based
interface is straightforward and
easy to learn. However, you’ll
need at least a 14.4 modem
and a SLIP/PPP Internet con-
nection. Archetype and 3DO
plan to release the final version
in July of 96. -V. Anderson
Archetype Interactive, (510)
849-4045.

Windows 95/NT CD-ROM
and Iniernet Connection

9 Tribeca

Summer 96

Idlh Planet Bethesda

9/96

Age of Rifles SSI

8/96

Afde De Camp 2 HPS Simulations

Sumrrier96

American Civil Warinteractive Magic

Summer 96

Battleground: Slilloli Taionsott ''

■ 7/96

Betrayal In Antara Sierra

9/96

Blood 3D Realms/FormGen

Summer 96

Callahan's Crosstime Saloon Legend 10/96

Close Combat Microsoft/Alomio '

7/96

Daggerfait Bethesda

Summer 96

Dark Earth Mindscape

' iO/96

Diabio Blizzard

Summer 96

Dungeon Keeper EA/Bultfrog

7/96

Elk Moon Murder Activision

7/96

F2ZNdvaLogic'' .

Winter 96

Guardians of Destiny Virgin

Summer 96

Flying Nightmares 2000 Domark

Summer 96

Front Page Baseball Pro Sierra

Summer 96

History oMIie World Avalon Hill

• Fall 96

Incredible Shrinking Man Cyberdreams 1/97

Interstate 76 Activision

Winter 96

Into The Shadows Scavenger

9/96

Jagged Alliance: Deadly Games Sir-Tech 8/96

Jelfighter III Mission Studios

Fall 96

John Madden Football 97 EA Sports 6/96

Last Blitzkrieg SSG

Summer 96

Leisure Suit Larry 7 Sierra

Fall 96

Magic of Xanth legend

Fall 96

Master of Orion 2: Mares MicroProse

Summer 96

Meridian 59 Arecbelype/3D0

Summer 96

MicroLeague Baseball 96 Mtcroleague 7/96

Myst II Broderbund

Fall 96

Necradome SSt

8/96

Nemesis Sir-Tech

9/96

NFL Legends Accolade

8/96

Noir Cyberdreams

9/96

One Must Fait Epic

Fall 96

Over the Reich Avalon Hill

8/96

Pacific Tide Arsenal

• Fall 96

Pax Imperia 11 Blizzard

Fall 96

Pod UbiSoft

Fall 96

Red Afert Virgin

10/96

Return to Krondor 7th level

Fall 96

Reverence Cyberdreams

Fall 96

Rlskl Hasbro Interactive

: Fall96

Robert E. Lee Sierra

7/96

Scrabble Hasbro Interactive

9/96

Shadow Warrior 3D Realms/FormGer

1 Fal)96

Stiadaws Over fliva SKech

8/96

SlmGolf Maxis

Summer 96

Soul storm OddWorld/GTInteractive

Spring 97

Star Fleet Academy Interplay

Fall 96

star Geaetal SSI

. 10/96

Star Trek: Generations MicroProse

9/96

SuperKaroes MicroProse

Summer 96

Syndicate Wars EA

9/96

The Mindwarp Maxis

8/96

Third Reich Avalon Hill

8/96

Timelapse GTE Entertainnient

8/96-

Tomb Raiders Domark/Eidos

Winter 96

Trivial Pursuit Hasbro interactive

7/96

Ultima Online Origin

Fall 96

X-Coni 3; The Anocalypso MicroProse Fall 96

Xenophage Apogee/FormGen

Summer 96

Waitlihe
plugs it in!

(800) 980.999;z»«^

•• Circle Reett^,Setvice 4191

ictlab.com/inventions.htm

Get Ready
Te RUMBLE

Id Signs A Death Warrant For 2D Gaming, 486s,

And Everybody Who Enters Their 3D Nightmare

D escribing Quake is iike talking about sex-it
must be experienced to be fuily appreciated.
Pictures pale in comparison, because Quake is
about being there, not observing from a dis-
tance. Action gamers around the world have
done just that by downloading the Quake
DeathMatch multiplayer test (Qtest). But 0/es/
is not Quake. The unfinished version of Quake
we played was a vast improvement over Qtest.
Many gamers expect QuAKE-an immersive and visceral first-person
shooter using true 3D polygon-based modelling, fluidly rendered in
real-time-to usher in a new era of gaming. When id agreed to show
us the nearly completed game, I didn’t have to check my notes. CGW
Technical Editor Dave Salvator and 1 jetted to Mesquite, Texas, and met
with renowned talents John Carmack, John Romero, Michael Abrash,
Sandy Peterson, and the rest of the id crew. Between being blown to
bits by howling members of the Texan assassins in DeathMatch con-
tests, we saw the technology and design that I am convinced is the
vanguard of a terrifying new level of immersive interactivity.

PLEASE DO NOT FEED THE MONSTERS

The welcoming committee that ushered us into the much larger,
more complex, and beautifully crafted levels was Quake’s ghoulish
cast of characters. Despite some previous skepticism, the monsters'

Al appeared strong enough to make solo-play palm-sweatin' fun. With
creatures this brainy and brawny, put yourself on the endangered list.

Upon encountering the fiendish hordes, we realized Quake lacked
the auto-aiming feature found in Doom and Qtest. Although Quake pro-
vided some up/down compensation, side-to-side corrections no longer
existed. Lead programmer John Carmack explained that it was "a
hotly debated topic. We settled on removing auto-aiming because
doing so rewards skill, and the less-skilled players seem to get a bet-

ter sense of accomplishment when they finally get the hang of
it.” Game designer Sandy Petersen gave me good advice:

"You need to aim."

Another controversial change from
id’s previous splatterfests is that
Quake will not have a map fea-
ture. No matter how much

►SNEAK PREVIEW • QUAKE

anyone begs or pleads, the design learn believes that an automap
detracts from the suspense of facing horrors around every corner.

The interface has also changed some from the Qtest version. It now
includes an ammo count that provides more details than the one in
Doom, and has expanded on Doom’s running commentary at the top
of the screen. Besides telling you when you’ve stumbled on a secret
or goodie, you’ll also find your death unceremoniously ridiculed with
quips like "VLong tries to put the pin back in” or “Fragula rides
Romero's rocket."

In addition, menu options will let you perform several basic func-
tions like start a new game, save or load a game, configure controls,
etc. But if you liked the pull-down command line in Qtest, rest assured
it will remain In Quake. Some of the commands have been changed or
removed, though, so don’t expect your favorite keys or console com-
mands to work the same In the release version.

And for those of you who routinely escape annihilation by cheating,
you’d better learn to fight, because you won’t have hotkey cheats like
SuperJump to save your cowardly skin, American McGee, a level
designer as well as id’s acknowledged DeathMalch king, remarked
sternly, "People should not be using SuperJump. It’s out."

MY, WHAT A LOVELY PLACE YOU HAVE HERE

We noticed an abundance of rich new textures, such as stained
glass, wood panels, and marble-like surfaces. If you didn’t like the fee-
ble pixel shower explosions in Qtest, you’ll be happy to know there are
now full-fledged fireball explosions with particles billowing outward,
'^irtist Adrian Carmack showed me that the fireballs are actually six
Y frames of bitmapped animation. It’s unfortunate that id had
' to resort to 2D art for explosions and other graphics like
torches, but programmer Michael Abrash explained that
even modeling a candle flame in real-time 3D
brings a Pentium to its knees.

Regardless of how they’re generated, I still like
the explosion graphics— it’s amazing how a lit-

tle artwork feeds the pyrotechnical proclivities deep in everyone’s soul.

Some weapons are undergoing facelifts as well as functional
stroking. For example, the double-barrelled shotgun sports ribs, and
has an improved shot pattern. The grenade launcher’s graphics are in
transition, while the rocket launcher’s rate of fire and blast radius are
being increased for maximum impact.

One thing remained the same-there’s no story line, besides the
eternal struggle between good (you) and the hordes of unrelenting
evil. Jay Wilbur, id’s "biz guy,” elaborated, “It’s thinner than soap-film
at this point.. .we’ll thicken it later. I look at it this way: A bad game
with a great story is a bad game. A great game with a bad story is still
a great game,"

LEVELS TO EXPLORE AND ESCAPE

Story or not, what i remember most is the overwhelming
sense of actually being there-wading through vaulted sub-
terranean corridors flooded in waist-deep water, gawking
at magnificent cathedral-like chambers opulently filled
with stained glass, and running like hell away from the
hordes of Satan's minions bent on having me for dinner.
Game programmer Mike Abrash saw my hair standing on
end as I survived Sandy Petersen’s perilous SMOTTE
level, and dryly remarked, “There’s no doubt you feel
that the levels are inhabited."

There were three modes of difficulty (easy,
irttermediate, and hard). The difficulty modes
affect the number of monsters, and Hard
mode alters the levels physically. John
Carmack is working on adding an
Ultra-Hard mode that will make the mon-
sters faster and even stronger,

►SNEAK PREVIEW • QUAKE

ID WIZ-KID JOHN CARMACK

UAKE isn't finished as of this writing, but that didn't stop
John Carmack from talking about his hopes for the
sequel. He explained, “The immediate plan is to move
the current tools to the NT platform, and to develop new
technolo^ and tools that will gradually be introduced In developing
and refining Quake II. My goal is to make content creation easier for
the rest of the id team.”

The use of Direct Color rather than palettes will be one fundamen-
tal change for the future. Direct Color gives programmers and artists
more freedom with lighting effects and tricks (including clouds and
colored lighting), all of which contribute to an immersive atmosphere.

Carmack added that, “Quake will be id's last pure planar polygon-
based engine. The future will utilize much more advanced geometries,
and will allow the programmers to specify the curvature and even
roughness of surfaces.”

“Like Doom, Quake is very good at generating indoor environments,
but doesn't do outdoor stuff as well as we'd like.” To that end, he is
looking at fractalated landscapes for creating realistic outdoor vistas.

Even with the new technologies, the characters themselves will
continue to use polygons, because “other technologies, such as typi-
cal software voxel rendering, are relatively poor at perspectives. They
do not generate the convincing impression of near or far the same
way polygons do.” He envisions twice as many polies will be used to
generate future characters. "Current Quake models have 200 to 500
polygons in each figure. These numbers will go up somewhat in
Quake II. but by the time we get our next generation of technology,
the average character should have over 1000 polygons.”

The bottom line is that Carmack and his colleagues seem to have
every intention of blowing your mind as well as your budget in the
coming years.

The levels clearly reflected the personalities of their designers. For
example, Tim Willits, a Raiders of the Lost Ark fan, is known for Indiana
Jones-type levels-walls that spew flying nails, spikes that impale from
above, and devices that result in quick decapitation. In general, McGee
designs the Metal levels, Tim Willits does the Medieval, Petersen does
Fantasy (a subset of Medieval), and John Romero does the Military
and some Medieval.

In case you're wondering, the answer is: No, the Quake Editor will
not be released. Even if it were, few aspiring level-builders have a
NextStep box needed to run it. But Jay Wilbur encourages intrepid
programmers to create their own Quake editors and custom levels. As
with Wolf3D and Doom, id currently plans to release the specs.

LET'S MEET OUR CONTESTANTS

As in Doom, you'll encounter legions of soldiers turned
evil. The grimy Grunt totes a shotgun, but is dwarfed by the
beefier Enforcer who wields a laser blaster. Rottweilers often
accompany these bad boys. As in Wolfenstein 3D, I felt a little guilty
putting these snarling canines to sleep despite their propensity to
gnaw on my leg. These three foes exist only on the Military levels.

The pink-fleshed Fiend is much more dangerous and pissed than
its equally muscular Demon brethren from Doom. Its scythe-like talons
and immense bounding leap help make short work of its victims. The
bald-headed Ogre, brandishing a chainsaw and lobbing grenades, may
not move as quickly but also deserves careful treatment.

ZZAPP! Beware the Shamfaler's.beily-aching: it often spells a lightning

bolt is about to punch through' yophc^^^ • •

FOR YOUR EYES ONLY Salivate all you want, but id will not release its
Quake Editor; Besides, you probably don't have a NextStep box to run it
on, anyway Watch the 'Net for plenty of'home-grown hacks.

JULY 1996

The Shambler lumbers along like the Abominable
Snowman, and smashes its victims with gargantuan claws.

Beyond spitting distance, it hurls lightening from its belly. Avoid it or
prod some Fiends into attacking it for you. On the other hand,

Zombies can only be permanently laid to rest with grenades, rockets,
or the axe. Despite its rigor-mortis clumsiness, the Zombie excels at
flinging pieces of decaying flesh and can make your life miserable,

Given the chance, the metal-clad Knight and Death Knight will slash
you to shish-kabob. The burlier Death Knight can hurl "magic mis-
siles" that look like a flurry of spikes with green tracers. The pale levi-
tating Scrag has the same magic attack.

Don’t think that jumping into water offers any measure of safety,
either. Spending too much lime fully submerged means drowning.
"Bad" water will rob you of health. Some pools harbor swarms of
voracious Rotfish that do more than nibble.

As always, the id guys kept a few morsels from plain sight.

Persistent poking around yielded information that they're still working
on the Spawn, which bounces around and body slams you into sub-
mission. its big brother, endearingly named Vomitus, drags along and
spits hurtful chunks at you. The Shalrath and Shub-niggurath are the
shareware and registered bosses, respectively; at the time, both were
still in the embryonic stages of development.

The Flying Dragon that majestically graced the screenshots id
released last year won’t be included... at least, not in Quake I. Look lor
it in Quake II.

BIGGER TOYS FOR BADDER BOYS

Feeding gamers’ ravenous appetites for playthings that go bang.
Quake offers an arsenal of goodies. DooM-fans will feel right at home
with the shotgun and double-barrelled shotgun. These boomsticks
work best for sweeping Rotfish, Rottweilers, and Grunts out of your
path.

As in Doom, acquiring a rocket launcher is a treat. This time,
though, rockets leave a blazing exhaust trail before vaporizing beasties
into showers of giblets. The dynamic lighting effects, which John
Carmack coded in an hour as a bet, make rockets a joy to fire down
darkened corridors. Forget about using them on the Spawn. Trust me.

Among the weapons unique to Quake is the grenade launcher,
which uses the same ammo as the rocket launcher. You toss the ord-
nance on a relatively short parabolic trajectory, and it bounces around
before it finally says hello. My favorites are the nail gun and super nail
gun. Nothing compares to hosing down a Scrag or DeathMatch adver-
sary under a torrent of carpenter’s tacks. You’ll find the ammo strewn
about in boxes marked with the Nine Inch Nails logo. (Speaking of
which, NIN’s Trent Reznor is doing all of Quake’s sound effects. As for
music, there will be none, just ambient noise.)

The BFG of Quake weapons is the lightning gun. Amped by battery
power, this one sends a searing white streak as far as you can see
until it strikes a solid object. Monsters and DeathMatch opponents are
not considered solid objects, no matter how many gel toasted along
the way.

Despite the premature coverage you may have seen elsewhere.

KING-SIZED BUGUGHTThe lightning gun could be conadered the
BFG of Quake. Its bolt bums through everything unW it hits a solid
object, but It won’t last long without . a recharge.

there is no hammer in Quake, period. Get over it. Instead, you get
an axe when you run out of ammo, DeathMatch opponents will see
your character sling an empty gun over your shoulder and whip out
the axe for a melee. Don’t sneer at this primitive implement, I sur-
prised and nearly fragged an id guy or two with the axe during our
Impromptu six-way DeathMatch. Both John Carmack and McGee
tell me that players who accumulate Super Health or Quad Damage
Amplifier or both will be powerful enough to lop heads with the
axe. Satisfied?

QUANTUM LEAP FOR MULTIPLAYER GAMING

Toys Ihis destructive are immensely more fun when mirthfully inflict-
ed on like-minded buddies. Whether you’re in DeathMatch or Team
DeathMatch, it’s strangely satisfying to watch your playmate's 3D-ren-
dered head flip down the hail after being decapitated with high-caliber

JULY 1996

^NEAK PREVIEW • QUAKE

^projectiles, and i! feels even better if you pulled the trigger. Anguished
screams add tremendously to the experience, and offer reassurance
that you've made your point, both in combat and coop mode,

Qtest’s dynamic entry feature for network games (players can join
network frag-fesls whenever they wish without forcing everyone to
restart the session) was nice, but Quake will vastly enlarge its reach by
adding the ability to simultaneously connect players via serial, IPX,
and TCP/IP. So you’ll be able to dial into a network game where other
players are connected over the LAN and the Internet. John Cash, id’s
“networking guy,” is working feverishly to include these features in the
first release, and plans to allow multiple modems and a “spectator"
mode later.

Quake will support the Beame & Whiteside TCP/IP slack, and possi-
bly a tew others. Id plans to do a Win95 port about a month after the
DOS version ships, and this should resolve TCP/IP issues for many
players.

Online gaming services like Mpath, DWANGO, TEN, and Catapult
are under consideration, but “nothing is set in concrete." However, it
appears Quake will offer enough to keep many gamers happy until
something firmer develops.

QuotellitstlKlIiirdStnrF

I nnovative game engines like Quake’s can dazzle, even without
dedicated 3D hardware. But to bring the next generation engines
to fruition, that's going to take new metal, id's John Carmack
predicts the next leap to occur “in about 1 to 2 years from now.
The technology will rely heavily on hardv.fare-accelerated rasterization,
because by then, all systems will have it."

Rendition’s Verite chip is id's current point of reference. They’re
also considering the S3 ViRGE chip because of its projected large
market share, though according to Carmack, its performance isn't up
to id's standards. The 3dfx chip is also a strong contender for id
because of its "ass-kicking performance," but because it's a 3D-only
solution, they're concerned it may only garner a limited market share.

But id isn't waiting around to take advantage of emerging 3D hard-
ware, Already, they've got the Quake engine running on Rendition's
chip, taking advantage of Verite's bilinear interpolation, perspective
correction, MIP mapping. Z-buffering, and Gouraud shading. Quake
delivers smooth frame rates at its native 320 x 200 frame size with no
special graphics hardware. But using the Rendition chip, the result is
a smooth 30 fps at larger frame sizes along with cleaner individual
frame quality as well.

Id is releasing a driver spec to 3D hardware vendors who want to
accelerate Quake in DOS. But Quake wilt more likely get to 3D hard-
ware via Microsoft’s Direct3D API when id ships a Windows 95 port,
shortly after the DOS version heads out the door
When Quake hits the streets, your Pentium rig will move things
along just fine. But the coming 3D hardware will make your big pic-
ture bigger, and add panache to the overall effect. Currently, only
Rendition accelerates the DOS version of Quake but other players will
most likely jump into the game. We’ve seen the Rendition-accelerated
version, and the difference is pretty palpable. As other hardware-
accelerated versions appear, we'll have at 'em and let you know if we
like what \,ve see.— Dave Salvator & V. Long

DO THE MATH!

According to John Carmack, a realistic minimum system for com-
fortably running Quake at default settings would be a Pentium 60 with
8 MB of RAM. He added that almost any video card is adequate, since
Quake can use as little as 256 KB of graphics memory. “While you can
play Quake on a 486 (just as some people play Doom on 386s), it
won't be very fun" and may require decreasing the screen size and
turning off the sound. Quake is very math-intensive, and it squeezes
every last drop out of the Pentium's floating point unit,

"WHEN IT'S READY"

As you're reading this, it's likely
that Quake version 0.9 is done and
downloadable from numerous
worldwide Internet sites. After a few
weeks, id will mint version 1.0 to
CD, which will then be sold via
retailers. The CD shareware version
(7 levels) will include the encrypted
registered version-so unlocking the
extra levels and goodies will only be
a phone call and credit card authorization away. Evil's temptations
keep getting greater.

y. Long is the Technical Editor lor Computer Life Magazine. He is an
expert in explosives and home-grown projectile weapons, and enjoys
pummeling CGW staffers in Quake DealhMatches. %

For tips and techniques on set-
ting up multiplayer Quake, visit
the CGW Web site at
www.zdnet.com/gaming

JULY 1996

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3D Graphics: Realism ami
Reality on the Haniware Frontier

by Loyd Case and Dave Salyator

T here's a possibly apocryphal story about a
game developer who was showing his mother
his latest flight simulation creation. This was a
few years ago, when a fast 386 was a perfor-
mance hot-rod. Back then, a sim like Falcon
3.0 used about 20 triangles to approximate the
shape of an entire jet fighter Try as she might,
the developer’s mother couldn't see the game-all she saw were ran-
dom geometric shapes changing willy-nilly on the computer screen.

Face if: computer game graphics is all about optical illusions where
game developers try to convincingly simulate reality on a flat PC moni-
tor. That game designers can take us into a virtual world and make us
forget our real one for even brief periods is testament to their creative
abilities. One key element of creating the illusion is 30 graphics. For
decades, 30 graphics has been something of a holy grail in the com-
puter industry. Even a scant few years ago, dedicated 30 hardware cost
tens of thousands of dollars. Soon, the cost of hardware to generate
killer 30 will be in the hundreds of doliars-and the low hundreds, at
that. On top of that, 30 graphics comes with a whole new set of jargon

to learn (as if computers didn't have enough arcane terminology now).
But what exactly is 30 graphics, and what will it bring to the party for
gamers? We’ll cut through the hype and aplly some English to the tech-
nospeak that describes the new features 3D hardware vendors are
implementing. We’ll also take a look at a few new pieces of hardware, all
of them promising in one respect or another. Since most of the boards
we saw at press time weren’t yet ready for release, we can't really pass
final judgment, but we can give you some idea of what to expect.

"BUT IT LOOKS 3D TO ME"

Let’s look at what 3D isn't for a moment. When gamers think of 3D
games, they often think of Doom. Guess what; Doom ain’t 3D. Doom
does a very good job of faking the gamer into thinking they’re in a 3D
environment, but they really aren’t. The monsters are flat
graphics-bitmaps. When you move to one side of a monster, the Doom
engine simply replaces one flat picture with another. Each creature in
Doom has eight views, and there’s no true up and down. A game like
Command and Conquer isn’t 3D. either. All the little buildings in
Command and Conquer look 3D. but they are really pre-rendered-in

iULY 1996

►GAMING IN THE NEXT DIMENSION

other words, they’re just fiat pictures. Now you may be asking yourseif,
"Tities iike Quake and Duke Nukem 3D took great with my 20 graphics
board, so why do 1 need one of these 3D deals?" Weil, 3D boards do
bring new features to the table that help improve overall image
quality-including frame rate-but more to the point, a 3D board lets
an application off-load rendering work from the CPU, leaving more
cycles free lor gameplay, Al, and so on.

In a true 3D environment, viewing an object from any angle is pos-
sible since the game engine creates and manipulates 3D objects on
the fly, and really works in three dimensions: x, y and z. There are also
real calculations of depth occurring in a 3D environment. Animation
should occur in real-time and be capable of realistic motion.

Unfortunately, generating 3D graphics in a real-time game environ-
ment is a huge computational problem. Consider a real-life scene: you
are standing beside a car, near a house. Because the car is in front of
the house, you can’t see all of the house. Some of it is obscured by
the car. Now imagine moving to the right a bit. You can now see part
of the house-but another part of the house you could see a moment
ago is now obscured. Moving like this is no problem. Calculating and
rendering a scene like this, including which parts of the scene can't be

SDAPIsflndtlitlffrBrfa^

I f you've ever installed a DOS game that supports a large num-
ber of sound cards, you can probably appreciate the problem of
supporting a gazillion different pieces of hardware— especially if
your hardware isn't on the list.

The same snafu could hold true for the new generation of 3D
graphics cards. Already we’re seeing vendor-specific implementations
of games arrive in bundles. The ATI version of Meoiwarrior 2, for
example, won’t run on a ^tem with another vendor’s card— even
when DirectSD or DirectDraw drivers are properly installed. There is
another way; a standard 3D Application Programming Interface (API),
an interface between a piece of software (i.e., a game) and a particu-
lar capability (in this case, 3D graphics.)

Last year Microsoft bought RenderMorphics, a UK developer of 3D
libraries whose API, Reality Lab, and has since been re-christened
DirectSD. As of this writing, DirectSD is still in late beta, but is near
"code freeze.” Game companies will likely be shipping a few DirectSD
games by Christmas, but probably not that many. DirectSD is a real-
time. 3D geometry and rendering engine that is specifically designed
for fast 3D games in Windows 95. DirectSD will also handle driver
Installation chores automatically.

viewed and all the depth information, takes serious processing horse-
power, especially if you want it at 30 frames a second, moving in any
possible direction. Now, let’s make the problem even more complex:
you can now see part ot the house through the windows of the car, but
the windows also reflect part of the car's interior. Oh, yeah, and it’s a
foggy day, too.

There’s been some debate as to the image quality versus frame rate
issue. Some 3D hardware may have features that result in gorgeous
images, but as you turn on some of these cool innovations, the frame
rate goes from silky smooth to slide show. Because action and flight
titles are all about 3D animation, not 30 illustration, frame rate is real-
ly part of the overa// “image" quality. Running say, US Navy Fighters at
1024x768-even on a very fast Pentium-will probably be painfully
slow, especially with all the graphics goodies turned on. At times, it’s
almost like warping to a different location as the frame rate goes
south. Even at a more sedate 640x480, most systems will have prob-
lems with a game like USNF or Flight Unlimited. The goal is bigger
frame sizes (at least 640x480 native), better frame rates (304- fps),
and greater scene complexity (more polygons). Game developers
need to strike a balance between individual frame image quality at
acceptable frame rates to achieve the desired overall effect. It’s too
early to declare a ’’winner,’’ but stay tuned, we will take a head-to-head
look at real 3D hardware later this year.

SHOVELING THROUGH THE HYPE

Let’s get back to market(ing) reality for a moment. To say that the
computer industry tends to over-hype new technologies is like saying
it rains in the Amazon jungle. Does this sound vaguely familiar? “3D
graphics boards will give you incredible graphics realism, unparalleled
performance, amazing gameplay— and it will butter your toast for
you!" The truth is most of the new 3D accelerators on the market

JULY 1996

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IN THE NEXT DIMENSION

address a very limited part ol the entire 3D graphics process. The
complete set of 3D graphics computations is usually referred to as the
3D gfaphics pipeline. The 3D graphics pipeline begins with the basic
geometry of the scene, then takes into account changes to the
scene-transforms (remember, things are in motion), lighting effects,
what’s seen and not seen and then the actual rendering of the scene
into pixels drawn on the computer monitor.

Most of these new chips really only handle that last piece: render-
ing the scene to the computer screen. A few of them handle some-
thing called primitive setup, in which the pieces ol the scene are bro-
ken down into basic geometric parts prior to the rendering. Everything
else, including highly CPU intensive transformations (which calculate
all the changes in objects as motion occurs), is handled by the CPU
itself. With that in mind, let’s take a look at various rendering features,
and what they really mean.

PASS THE LEXICON

We could write a small encyclopedia just defining all the possible
terms used for 3D graphics, but we will only define features that are
probably Ihe most important, plus a few that aren't— but are heavily
hyped, so you’ll be forewarned.

Remember that the ultimate goal is to |
create the illusion of 3D reality within !
the confines of a 2D computer screen. '

Texture Mapping. Texture map- 1
ping is what gives modern 3D graphics'
their realistic appearance. A texture I

map is simply a bitmap or a picture !
that’s laid over a polygon to make it !
look more realistic. For instance, a !

small picture of a few bricks may be !
tiled over a huge, rectangular polygon I
to make it look like a brick wall. !

Individual pixels of a texture map will 1
often be called texets. \

’Importance: High i

Perspective Corrected i

Texture Mapping. Sinceatex-
ture map is simply a picture that’s
overlaid on a polygon, if the poly-
gon shifts because of a change in
the viewing angle, Ihe texture needs
to shift properly as well-otherwise,
it looks very odd.

’Importance: High
Antialiasing. If you drawa
straight line on a computer screen
at an angle other than horizontal or
vertical, you’ll often see a stair-step
effect, often called “jaggies."
Antialiasing blends the colors
around the line with the color of the
line itself to fool the eye into thinking that the stair-steps are gone.
Antialiasing can also be applied to textures to make them look
smoother.

’Importance: Moderate

Bilinear Filtering. In most of today’s games, one texel, (i.e., one
pixel from the texture map), is applied to one pixel of Ihe underlying
polygon. This is called point sampling, and results in textures appear-
ing to "crawl." For each texel, bilinear filtering averages four surround-
ing texels from the texture map and applies them to the polygon, cre-
ating a smoother or more realistic appearance to the surface. This fea-
ture doesn’t come cheap since it effectively quadruples the amount of
work the processor has to do.

’Importance: High

MIP Mapping. You may have noticed in some games that when
you get really close to an object, the texels suddenly get blocky and
unreal. MIP mapping is really a simple concept. For each object, sev-
eral textures are stored-for example, three textures may exist for our
brick wall sample-a near texture, a middle texture and a far texture.

As you move closer to the wall in the virtual environment, the textures
are swapped to maintain the realistic appearance. If you combine bilin-

JULY 1996

►GAMING IN THE NEXT DIMENSION !

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ear filtering with MIP mapping, you get bilinear MIP mapping.
One of the most dramatic increases in image quality occurs when you
perform bilinear filtering to the two closest MIP maps, then average
out the result. This is often called IrilinearfiHering. but is more accu-
rately known as trilinear MIP mapping. Like bilinear filtering, Irilinear
MIP mapping adds a lot of processing overhead to the 3D pipeline,
and can really drive frame rates south,

*MIP Mapping Importance: High
*Trilinear Filtering Importance: Moderate
Fog , This is just what it sounds like, but simulating fog or smoke
effects also requires a lot of compulation,

‘Importance; High

Alpha Blend, Remember our example of looking through a car
window? Simulating transparency or partial transparency can be tricky
and expensive in terms of compulation. Alpha blending is one tech-
nique to handle transparency effects,

‘Importance: Low

Lighting Effects, Remember those cool flashing lights in Doom?
Guess what: those weren’t really lights; they were really clever graph-
ics tricks. In true 3D, lighting is realistically calculated, and if you have
a bunch of lights, all throwing shadows, it can really eat up CPU or
processor cycles,

‘Importance: Moderate

Sub-Pixel Accuracy, Remember our definition of filtering and
MIP mapping? The result of those operations need to be applied
accurately to the underlying flat surface; that’s what sub-pixel accura-
cy is for. It also smoothes a 3D object's motion, helping to reduce the
“ratcheting” effect,

‘Importance; Low

Gouraud Shading. This technique is named for its inventor, and
when you have two flat polygons connected together, the actual con-
necting vertex can make the object look unrealistic. Gouraud shading
simply blends in the colors of the two polygons to make the joined
vertex look seamless and natural. Flat shading is the other predomi-
nant type of shading, where a single color is used to fill a single poly-
gon. Its main advantage is that it’s less processor-intensive, but flat-
shading gives a less convincing effect,

‘Importance: High

Z-8uffering, One of the trickiest tasks in real-time 3D calculations
is figuring out which parts of the scene are obscured, known as hid-
den surface removal. Z-buffering is one computational method for cal-
culating which objects lie in front and only rendering the visible ones.
It’s downside is that it’s memory and CPU intensive.

‘Importance: Moderate

Technospeak aside, all of these features sound really great, and the
resulting scenes are pretty impressive. But different 3D chips acceler-
ate these features with varying degrees of completeness. Some chips
only handle part of the rendering, leaving the CPU to do the rest. The
unfortunate result is that your frame rate may still slow down when
you turn on a cool rendering feature. Here again, the jury is still out.

Let’s move on to some of the new 3D accelerator technologies and
also lake a look at some early boards that use them.

WHEN THE CHIPS ARE DOWN

There are three main philosophies behind development of 3D
graphics hardware today; 3D-only, graphics plus 3D and the Swiss
army knife approach (which handles several different multimedia
chores, not just graphics). 3D-only vendors include 3Dfx, Yamaha and
NEC, while Rendition, S3, Matrox and ATI are delivering full-featured
graphics solutions in a single chip. The multimedia chip sets include
nVidia, Chromatic and Brooktree. Let’s look at each of them individual-
ly, and also take a brief look at resulting 3D graphics boards for PCs,

3D-ONLY SOLUTIONS

3D-only solutions will likely appear as add-on boards, typically
requiring a dedicated PCI slot. These boards are going for all-out per-
formance, so the focus is killer 3D performance, and leaving 2D
graphics to the existing board. These vendors figure that most gamers
already have a fast graphics board of some kind. But available PCI
slots are becoming more scarce, so that’s a concern-no free slot, no
add-on. •

VOODOO BY 3DFX

The Voodoo graphics chipset by 3Dfx may be the highest perform-
ing 3D graphics solution available. The real issue with Voodoo will be
its cost. It’s a multiple chip solution with two chips, and it also needs
a dedicated memory area for storing textures. Now the good part:
Voodoo supports a big heap o' 3D features, and should be capable of
very fast 3D rendering. If demos mean anything, overall image quality
should also be superb-perhaps the best of any of the products men-
tioned here.

Orchid has announced it will be shipping a board this summer,
dubbed the Righteous 3D. that will have 2 MB of frame buffer memory
and 1 MB of dedicated texture memory. Pricing wasn't available at
press time, but will likely be around $300.

Also, NEC recently announced that its new high-end PowerPlayer
system will be using the 3DFX chipset for 3D graphics.

ATI Xpresslon 3D

JULY 1996

►GAMING IN THE NEXT DIMENSION \

YAMAHA RPA2 AND RPA3

The RPA2 chip from Yamaha was incorporated in a recent 3D
graphics PCI add-on board from Paradise Graphics, the Tasmania. But
Tasmania received relatively little support from game developers. The
newer RPA3 has a good feature set, but won't be shipping until later in
the summer. No pricing information was available at press time.

NEC/VIDEOLOGIC POWERVR

The PowerVR is a recently announced chipset, co-developed by
NEC and Videologic. PowerVR's unique feature is a proprietary hidden
surface removal method that doesn’t require dedicated Z-buffer mem-
ory. Though a potential RAM saver, it’s an unconventional method for
handling hidden surface removal, but NEC will write support into their
driver so game develpers can make regular Z-buffer calls to use it,
Compaq recently announced that its Presario systems will incorporate
the PowerVR chip later this year. Also, VideoLogic will be offering an
add in board for about $175.

FULL-FEATURED GRAPHICS SOLUTIONS

Full-featured graphics chips incorporate 3D, 2D acceleration {for
fast Windows performance) and onboard VGA and SVGA for DOS
games. Because of the nature of combining multiple elements, com-
promises are inevitable, but there’s already good potential for replac-
ing your current graphics boards with one of these solutions.

RENDITION VERITE

Rendition is a new company focused on delivering a complete
graphics solution for fast game play. We had the opportunity to see
gameplay with the VeritE, and what we saw looked good. Rendition
was showing IndyCar 2, and the Quake graphios engine, both tuned for
the Verite. IndyCar 2 played very well on a Pentium 100 with all ren-
dering features enabled. Walls looked very good close up thanks to
texture filtering and MIP mapping, and the cars looked great as well.

Mechwarrior 2 for Windows 95, which uses Microsoft's DirectDraw
API, ran very smoothly on the Pentium 100-easily comparable to a
Pentium 133 running one of the quickest Windows 2D accelerators
available. We also checked out DOS game performance, still a critical
item for today's gamers. Interestingly, VGA performance seemed only
average, while SVGA performance seemed well above average for a
Pentium 100. Though the VGA core is a true hardware VGA, it’s not a
very fast one. The SVGA implementation, though, is directly tied to the
RISC processor engine used on the Verite. Since most games ship-
ping today are SVGA, they should run very well on the Verity,

Rendition has done its homework in the feature set as well, and
image quality is likely to be very good, approaching that of 3 Dfx at a
lower cost. Also, the Verite performs some geometry setup, so less
data needs to be transferred across the PCI bus, reducing a potential
bottleneck.

The first product to ship with the Verite will be Creative Labs PCI
version of the 3D Blaster. Unlike its VLB sibling, the PCI 3D Blaster
will replace the current graphics card in your PC, not merely supple-
ment it. At press time, pricing hasn't been set, but it will probably be

Diamond’s Stealth 3D 2000

well under $300 for a 2 MB card.

3D LABS PERMEDIA

3D Labs has been in the 3D graphics business for several years,
shipping high-end 30 chips for use in dedicated CAD and 3D model-
ing systems. Last winter. Creative Labs shipped the VLB-only 3D
Blaster, which used a scaled-down version of 3D Labs GLiNT chip.
The PERMEDIA, however, is a complete reworking of 3D Labs technolo-
gy, and incorporates a 32-bil VGA core and a fast Windows accelera-
tor, Creative Labs has announced that it is licensing the Permedia, but
hasn’t mentioned any products yet. Acer will be shipping graphics
cards later this summer based on Permedia. 3D Labs may have a very
interesting chip, but its overall performance for gaming is still an
unknown.

S3 VIRGE j

S3 has taken an existing chip, the Trio 64V+, and added 3D capa- l

bility to it. The resulting chip is the Virge, and it is even pin compatible ;

with the Trio 64V -f. One benefit of this approach is that graphics card j

vendors can use existing card designs and thus quickly bring a 3D- j

capable card to market; also, Windows performance is quite good and ;
VGA performance seems on a par with other S3-based cards: good, ;
but not great. However, the result is something of a compromise, and ;
performance is somewhat open to question. We looked at a beta ver- ]

Sion of the Diamond Stealth 3D 2000, which comes with 2 MB of |

ORAM. Descent 2 looked very nice, especially the wall textures, but I

the frame rate on a Pentium 133 slowed down a bit when there was a |

lot of action. Ot course, this was a beta card, so we’ll reserve judg-
ment until we can see the shipping product, j

Other companies using the Virge include Hercules, with their |
Terminator 64 3D, Number Nine’s Motion 332fx and STB's 1

Powergraph 64 3D. The Hercules card will have single-cycle EDO ,1
RAM, giving it just a bit more juice in the memory department. All of .1
these cards should hit close to $200 for a 2 MB version. {

JULY 1996

►GAMING IN THE NEXT DIMENSION

S3 will also be doing a VRAM version of the part called the Virge
FX. One caution about the Virge: early versions of the Virge support
only 2 MB of DRAM, so if you have the urge to add more memory
later, check the product carefully. By the time you read this, though,
cards supporting up to 4 MB should be available,

ATI 3D RAGE

Like S3, ATI took an existing design, the Mach 64 used in its
Graphics Xpression and Graphics Pro Turbo products, and grafted 3D
capability onto it. We had the chance to play on a beta version of the
30 Xpression card, a 2 MB DRAM card. ATI supplied us with an
enhanced version of Mechwarrior 2, Although the resolution was
slightly lower (512x384 Instead of 640x480), it looked very nice. Sky
and ground textures had been added, and the polygon count of all the
objects had been significantly increased. Better quality textures were
also laid on all the objects, making this version of Mechwarrior 2 look
as good as anything else oul there. The sky textures were even ani-
mated. giving the impression of clouds scudding across the sky. All
these new textures came at a cost, of course; the default Installation
went from 48 MB to 72 MB.

As for performance, we did notice some mild frame rate hits in the
heat of battle, but nothing severe. The same couldn't be said for the
version of Assault Rigs they supplied us-at the highest resolution, the
frame rate on Assault Rigs became pretty pokey. Windows perfor-
mance was excellent, but VGA performance was only average. The
Xpression 3D will be priced at around the $200 mark.

MATROX MYSTIQUE

Matrox has actually been in the 3D game for some time now. Their
latest 3D card, the Millenium, has also gained the reputation of being
a very fast VGA and Windows card. However, the 3D feature set really
wasn’t tuned for games, and the Millenium received almost no sup-
port from game developers.

Matrox has taken a different approach with the Mystique, with more
emphasis placed on 3D performance. Though based on the same
basic engine as the Millenium, Mystique uses a different memory con-
troller and PCI interface chip, Matrox has added support for perspec-
tive-corrected texture mapping, Z-buffering, and MIP mapping.
However, the Mystique doesn't support bilinear filtering or
blending-fog or smoke effects are handled through four levels of
screen door transparency (if you’ve seen the smoke effects in Chuck
Yeager’s Air Combat, you know what screen door transparency is),
Matrox’s philosophy is that nothing should compromise frame rate, so
they chose to forego features that could bog down frame rate.

Because its raw Windows and VGA performance should be pretty
high, this card bears a close look, but the feature set means that the
image quality might not match those of the other solutions. Still, it the
3D performance is comparable to its SVGA and Windows abilities, this
could be an interesting card. Current estimated street price is about
$229.

CIRRUS L0GIC/3D0

Recently, Cirrus Logic has announced it will incorporate 3DO’s M2
3D technology into its line of graphics accelerators. While Cirrus
Logic’s graphics chips have been at the low end of the 2D spectrum,
the addition of 3D0’s M2 technology could result in stellar 3D perfor-
mance. However, not much else is known at this time.

MULTIMEDIA ACCELERATORS

Several companies have taken the approach that 3D is just another
facet of multimedia technology They’ve taken 3D and 2D graphics,
digital sound, joystick inputs and MIDI music capability and integrated
them into a single chip or a couple of chips.

CHROMATIC RESEARCH MPACT

Another startup company. Chromatic Research, is working on a
chip that will do everything just short of the dishes. MPact will handle

JULY 1996

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2D graphics, 3D graphics, digital video, wavetable synthesis, general
wave audio, and fax/modem, and will be able to process several media
types simultaneously. Though an ambitious undertaking, design com-
promises are inevitable. Its current 3D feature set includes only Z-
buffering and MIP mapping. We only saw a very early beta demo of
the chip where Direct3D was still shaky, so we don’t have any real low-
down on this chip yet. And while its versatility is certainly impressive,
its thin 3D feature set does leave us somewhat skeptical.

NVIDIA NVl

The NVl first appeared in the Diamond Edge 3D, and has since
surfaced on the Jazz 3D Magic. The Edge 3D was probably a product
that was "slightly ahead of its time," and suffered from some teething
problems. Windows 2D performance was mediocre, and DOS VGA
performance was pitiful. Virtua Fighter looked awfully good, and the
use of the Sega oontroi pads was pretty neat, but no other titles have
appeared other than the four that shipped with the Edge.

According to nVidia, that's about to change. The Windows drivers
have been beefed up, and the VGA performance has been tweaked as
well. More importantly, a number of new titles are about to appear,
including a hot rod version of Mechwarrior 2. The MIDI music sam-
ples have been greatly improved as well. Also, nVidia has taken the
criticisms to heart, and is busy working on their next-generation NV3
chip, though details are still sketchy. We weren't able to test most of
these claims at press time, but we’ll definitely take a closer took at the
newer NV1-based cards as they arrive.

THE IMPENDING SHAKE-DOWN

With any new technology, there will be winners and losers in the
marketplace. In the short term, some of the pain will be alleviated by
the use of standard 3D APIs (see sidebar), but nonetheless, it’s likely

that of the 30-plus players in the 3D graphics game, many will be
gone within a few years.

CGW has taken a very close look at most of the major players, and
what we’ve seen looks very encouraging. There are still questions to
be answered: How will DOS games play? Will Direct3D take hold, or
will developers be forced to support multiple pieces of hardware, and
will hardware vendors in turn have to bundle custom-coded games to
make their boards palatable? Will even 3D performance meet expecta-
tions? In the next few months, you can be sure we'll be going over real
shipping product with our virtual fine-tooth combs and let you know if
it’s really worth it. We can say, however, that the die is cast, the game's
afoot and soon we'll be wallowing in 3D hardware. We can’t ml%

3Bliraplii($[oriir(Qtiins

Product

Creative

PCI 30 Blaster

Diamond

Stealth 3D 2000

Hercules
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Matrox

Mystique

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Edge

Orchid

Righteous 3D

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Yes

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'fes

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Yes

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Yes

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Yes

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Yes

Other

Geometry setup,

HAM antialiasing,
chromakey, & support
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Single-ryde EDO DRAM

SDRAM ^

Bus mastering for
command lists
and texture loading

Digital audio,

MIDI, Sega Controllers,
Slow DOS VGA

Separate texture memory,
HW antialiasing

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CG\N Surveys The Field Of Computer Football,
Baseball, Hockey, Hoops And More

W hen the Olympic torch
fires up this summer in
Atlanta, it will mark the
100th anniversary of this
modern international
athletic competition-a
landmark event. And in
the U.S., it couldn't

come a moment too soon, as professional sports once again
finds itself knee-deep in what Pat Riley calls "the problem of
me"-players so self-absorbed that they're killing their teams
and turning off their Ians. Sure, it hasn’t been all bad, but for
every moment of triumph— Dwight Gooden’s stunning no-hitter.

the Bulls’ awesome domination-there’s been an equal act of
stupidity. Players have been shoving reporters, head-butting refs,
and even abandoning their teams to go water skiing, for crying
out loud.

But, hey, don’t get us started. In the world of computer sports
games, thank goodness, it’s been another banner year, as
games across the board continue to get better and better.
Smarter Als, gorgeous motion-captured 3D graphics and more
sophisticated playbooks and strategy are all helping to put com-
puter sports fans deeper into the action than ever before. So
lace up your sneakers and follow us onto the field as we survey
the hits (and misses) in this year’s sports games, and take a
sneak peak at the most promising players in the season ahead.

Jtk.

All photos by ALLSPORT

JULY 1996

^SPORTS SPECTACULAR

PICSKIN

RACKACINC

Do More Graphics And
Action Equal Better Gameplay?

BY TERRY COLEMAN

s !he NFL goes further into its eighth decade,
questions abound. Can Jimmy Johnson, now
with the Doiphins, win the Super Bowl that
eluded Don Shula at the end of his record-set-
ting career? Will George Seifert ever gel the
he deserves as coach of the 49ers?
Emmitt Smith’s hamstrings really healed? Is Dave Brown worth the
millions he receives as the Giants unknown QB? What fountain of youth
does Jerry Rice drink from?

As this season is simulated on the
silicon gridiron, similar
questions are raised. Will
Page Sports Football
return to win another
sports title? Will

game engines
ever capture the feel of the
pro passing game? Are com-
puter coaches soon to be on
unemployment line? And
what about zone blitzes?

STATISTICAL DINOSAURS

A big concern for any real foot-
ball fan is how the stats are gener-
Problem is, the stat-based
Sims are fading fast in football, unlike
their baseball brethren. The only pure stat sim I still
recommend is 3-In-1 Football, (Lance Haffner, 800-
477-7032, or 615-366-8088). You can autoplay
entire seasons in a couple of hours, and "live"
against the computer or hotseat vs. another
coach take maybe 30 minutes. Forget graph-
ics, this game concentrates on a strong computer
opponent and realism-the stats generated are the
most accurate of any football game on the market.
Every great college and pro team from the dim
mists of time is included, along with the particular
rules quirks for each era; Lance also sells season
disks from the 1950s onward, tor those who don’t
feel teams such as the Dallas Texans were obscure
enough. If you're more interested in re-creating the
Dolphins’ perfect season than in timing your passes

with a joystick, this is your game.

NFL Pro League Football (IBM, 800-426-2255) is
an odd mix of stat-based realism with animation and
graphics. There are plenty of classic and current
teams, and enough stats to fill an encyclopedia.

But the A1 has strange lapses, and the entire expe-
rience seems kind of sterile. For instance, when
you throw a post pattern to your flanker, he’s the
only one who can catch it; there are no sec-
ondary receivers, and no audibles. Pro League
does have modem play going for it, but the
stats and realism generated aren’t significantly
ahead of the Flaffner product to justify the
hassles and the extra expense.

LONELY & BITMAPPED Tired Of
bursts from training camp this fa
the playing fields of cyberspace.

beating the Al? When Front Page Seoms Football Pro 97
ill, human coaches will finally be able to test their mettle on

A breakthrough in sound so real,
your PC will have its own groupies.

The crowd keeps growing

until they have your house surrounded.

Then the chanting begins. "A-W-E. . .A-W-E. . .A-W-E."

It seems that Sound Blaster’ AWE 32™ PnP is the first
sound card to develop its own cult following. That's
because it makes eveiy other sound card seem like a blast

Th^AWE Blaster fllllEBH PnP. Hear

puts professional '"wr*' p,

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Systems, the professional audio experts,
inside your PC. It delivers the mind-bending
realism of wave-table synthesis-which uses
actual recordings of real sound effects and
musical instruments. And it plays up to 32
notes simultaneously, adding new detail
and richness to your favorite games
and software.

AWE 32 is the first sound card
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SoundFont’' technology lets you
add new sounds and instruments to your card. Add up to
28 MB of memory to create your own audio library. We
'’'"’n included a microphone and software for recording
music and sound effects. And, of course, the AWE 32
is fully Plug and Play and works with Windows’ 95,
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►SPORTS SPECTACULAR

MlEgtiids’BrlngseridironliliostsBatkTolift

The music swings, the sax soio burning in lime to Jim Thorpe, as
he cuts left, then bursts into the open, chased by Bronko Nagurski.
Leather helmets clash against pads barely large enough to contain the
massive sinews, as the two men tumble out of bounds. On the next
play, it's Thorpe again-no, it’s a fake-Knute Rockne rolls right and
throws deep to "Crazy Legs” Hirsch. Touchdownl

A highlight reel from days gone by? No, it's the freshest idea in
years: take an action-oriented football game; add solid statistics: place
60 years of great players at your fingertips. Accolade’s ambitious NFL
Legends uses lessons learned Irom the Unhecessaw Roughness
series, but as designer Kevin Hogan is guick to point out,

"not a line of code has passed from
that game to NFL Legends."

NO SINGLE WING

You take snaps from center in lour
eras-1932, 1950, 1968 and 1996-and
you can even match teams from different
eras. Sammy Baugh’s QB rating might
soar, with the modern rules favoring pass-
ing. And who, other than Deion Sanders,
would Jerry Jones keep on a 1930s roster
if the Cowboys were limited to only 20 play-
ers? Could the vaunted “Four Horsemen"
malch their legendary rushing exploits
against 300-pound defensive linemen and *

90s-style Zone Blitzes? NFL Legends revels in the celebration of larger-
than-life players and great teams. It allows you to play "what-if” with
more than cold statistics Irom dusty record books.

^PREVIEW

GAME STILL IN DEVELOPMENT

And it feels like football, not a
watered-down arcade imitation.

There’s plenty of action in both the running and passing games; the
blocking routines fake into account angles, player Intelligence and
Agility, Completing passes seems easier than in Front Page 96, and
yet more realistic than in John MAOPEN-no more of those 48-yatd
bombs every third play found in UR.

Some 24 audibles are available, along with the ability to create
plays and optimize your playbook. Other nice touches include the dif-
ferences between real grass and Astroturf: dete-
rioration of the field; ability to accelerate; trac-
tion in bad weather: and of course, injuries,
which can carry and affect a player’s perfor-
mance during a season. The digitized music
changes from swing in 1932 to early rock n’
roll in the 50s, and on to mote modern
sounds. The playing fields and stadiums ate
faithtully recreated in each era, as are the
rules. In 1932, for example, you have no
hashmarks; if you run out of bounds, the
next snap is on the sideline-which makes
lor some creative play-calling.

Multiple seasons are included for
career leagues, and you can trade not
only players, but draft choices as well-a big
improvement over FPS Football. If your reflexes aren’t up to fast action,
you can just coach to your heart’s content. Now excuse me while I go
don my leather helmet-my Chicago Cardinals have a score to settle
with those cocky 49ers, and this time we’re playing in my era.

(,yehaNir>9'''"^'

A Shattered Land
A Villainous Usurper
A Call For Heroes

Rise To The Challenge...

NEW W^HED HmmiNG, eng:

I’O. Box 4302. llollywoctd, CA 90078

0 1996 New World CompuUng. Inc. Heroes of Mighl and Magic II is a trademark of New World Compudne, Inc. New World Computing and Might and Magic
are registered trademarks of New World CompuUng. Inc. All ngtits reserved. All other trademarks belong to their respective holders.

COACHING CHANGES

Ultimate Football ’95 made some
positive changes, but it wasn’t enough
to please the management and fans,
so it’s out the door. MicroProse has
signed with ABC to form OT Sports,
and their first release, ABC Monday
Night Football, looks to have the
superstar appeal that UF lacked. Dan
Dierdorf, Frank Gifford and Al
Michaels add pizzazz, and the multi-
media and production values are close
to those of the TV show. Whether the
flash and the excellent graphics will
capture the computer Neilsen ratings
are dependent on whether this blend of action and strategy moves
beyond the old UF engine. We'll keep you posted.

In even bigger news, John Madden Football 97 (EA Sports, 415-571-
7171) won’t be out until this fall-the first time in recent memory that it’s
skipped a season. Madden has lived off past glories for long enough now
that its position as the action football king is no longer a certainty. Recent
versions have focused too much on interface and graphics; the gameplay,
once the industry standard, has suffered as a result. The draft module,
for example, doesn’t work as well as that of Front Page 96. The passing
routine is overly simplistic, just as Front Page 96's is too hard. Madden
doesn’t commit the egregious arcade sins of Hardball 5, but it is way too
slanted in favor of offense (even for the pass-happy NFL). It’s more than a
little irritating when an average reoeiver can catch pass after pass even
when double-teamed by an All-Pro corner and free safety. The defense,
once criticized because the Mad Dog Blitz was too effective, now makes
The Steel Curtain look like moth-eaten fabric. So, I have a lot of respect
for EA Sports' decision to wait until the engine is revamped, instead of

releasing "Madden 95 If Madden 97 is
given the royal treatment that NBA Live
received, football fans will have a lot to
cheer about.

And what of Front Page Football? The
original engine is giving way to a younger
batch of code. The new draft choices
promise tweaks to the already strong Al, an
easier passing mode (finally!), and-hold on
to your facemask-mulliplayer play. Plus, the
annoying number of 99-yard "runs to day-
light" should fall by the wayside. But as
usual with the FPS crew, the game won’t
realistically be finished and on the shell
until near Thanksgiving. So, suffer through
with Football Pro 96’s excellent graphics and career mode-still the
best football sim in the land-and be sure to whine at Sierra (800-757-
7707) for a reasonable upgrade price.

NETWORK BOMBS

In the meantime, don’t hold your breath for on-line action elsewhere,
either. The new NFL Legends (see the Sneak Preview on previous page)
allows hotseat, but no modem or net play. And the version of FPS
Football Pro on INN (415-548-2500) is OK, but you rarely find an oppo-
nent from February through Augusl-and it’s an old version of the game
engine, at that. The Football Pro leagues on CompuServe offer more
opponents, but you aren’t really playing “live" but against your opponent’s
pre-chosen game plan.

Still, the emphasis by the "Division 1” programs to hold releases until
the gameplay comes close to the technology bodes well for football
fans-whether their game plan calls for action, simulation, stats, strate-
gy, or hopefully, all of the above.

HEY, I SKIPPED A SEASON Action fans may feel disappoint-
ed. but the improvements to John Madden 97 will likely be
worth the wait.

Call 1-800-251-9563 for more information, or check out our hot new Weh Site at http://www.nwcomputing.com

r.irrio Po.teinr

►SPORTS SPECTACULAR

ATOP THE
MOUND

BY DENNIS McCauley

I f there’s one major sport that’s perfectly suited to computer
simulation, it has to be baseball. With its historical emphasis
on statistics, the national pastime provides perfect grist for
the number crunching that personal computers do so well.
The tight geometry of the game, its timeless sense of pace,
and its rich history have combined to keep sports game
developers busily coding balls and strikes.

What's amazing is the effect that baseball fans’ passion for statistics
has had on the evolution-or seeming lack fhereof-of baseball products.
As we near the end of the second decade of the home computer revolu-
tion, a surprising number of offerings exist primarily for their statistical
appeal. Oh, a few have added a stadium backdrop here, or an announc-
er voice-over there, but it’s the underlying slat engine that really
drives many baseball games, In an age when most games
become yesterday’s news as soon as the next technological
wave hits, fully half of today’s baseball games are static products
driven by statistical simulation. The other halt comprise splashy,
graphics-heavy baseball products. These feature large, full-
motion player sprites, arcade action, music and loads of atmos-
phere-right down to the boo-birds in the bleachers.

STAT AHACK

One of the old pros in stat-based sims, Lance Haffner’s Full
Count Baseball, now extends its career with version 6.0-and it’s

^ BS5

CURVE BALL You’ll have to decide for yourself whether Baseball For
Windows is worth the steep teaming curve, but Bill James Encycudpedia on
CD is a must.

a very serviceable product if you don't mind investing the time involved
in manually entering lineups, pilching rotations, and the like. On the
bright side, once you’ve taken the trouble, the game can store up to ten
preset lineups per team. Designers Haffner and Shannon Lynn could
have made seasonal
replays much easier,
however, by coding
stock lineups in dur-
ing production.

The true appeal of
Full Count is the
huge number of
teams included:
every big league
club from the most
recent season, plus
every World Series
and playoff learn
since 1900.
Ambitious fans can
set up a massive tourney to find the besi team ever, or just replay their
favorite fall classics, using the likes of the powerhouse '27 Yankees, the
Gas House Gang or the Amazing Mels.

The text-based action is played out over VGA backdrops of major
league stadiums. Full Count has lefty-righty breakdowns for posf-1984
teams, generates team schedules and auto-tracks rest days for pitchers.
The game’s chrome includes weather, injuries and realistic pitcher
usage options for every era of professional baseball. Full Count also
offers a player creation utility which gamers can use to make teams,
provided they don’t mind keying in 37 rating categories per player.

There are some quirks, as when the trade routine queries the player
whether the team involved has compiled stals-somelhing the software
could easily keep track of. Still, Full Count Baseball 6,0 provides good
value, since gamers who relish its brand of staf-based strategy are less
likely to be dependent on interface niceties.

■raiP With its low system demands and realistic
stat-based pl^, Full Count Baseball is an attractive
choice for laptops.

Aclivision and Zort are registered trademarks and Zerk Nemesis is a trademark ot Aeltvisioa Inc. © 1996 Activision, tnc. Alt rights reserved. Alt other trademarks and trade names are the properties ol their respective holders.

Circle Reader Service /f97

THE CRITICS CAH’T ESCAPE THE SPELL.

AcliVSoM.

ALSO AVAILABLE OH

Dare visix http://www. ACT ivision.com

"A mYSTERY SO inSCRUTABLE iT [BAKES IBYST
LOOK LiKE A WORD jumBLE.”

NEWSWEEK

"ZORK nEfBESiS iS A BRiLLiAHT EXAIBPLE OF
WHAT A GRAPHiC ADVEHTURE GARlE SHOULD BE.”

PC ENTERTAINMENT/GAMES

"i CAUT OVEREHlPHASiZE HOW SPECTACULAR
ZORK HEIBESiS LOOKS.”

CO-ROM TODAY

"THiS GAIBE CAPTURES YOUR ATTEUTiOU WITH

iTS STunninc graphics add HAunTinc audio...”

COMPUTER GAME REVIEW

"ALTHOUGH iT’S SURE TO RECEIVE PLEUTY OF
COFBPARiSOn TO [BYST, iT’S iU A CLASS ALL iTS OWU”

GAMER

SPECTACULAR

NEW STORMFRONT COMING IN Tony URussft 3 FOR 1996 gets the
“weirdest title" awarti, but it’s also the front-runner in the graphical base-
bail Sim race.

MILLER DOES WINDOWS

The latest version ot Miller Associates’ Baseball For Windows incor-
porates an improved league manager module and new micro man-
agers, including two that correctly handle pre-closer era pitching staffs,
game comes with several oldtimer teams, three complete past sea-
sons (1921, 1943 and 1971) and three ballparks.

Of all the stat-based sims, Baseball for Windows has most pushed
the envelope toward multimedia. While play is still static and text-based,

takes place atop beautifully rendered ballpark graphics. Former Detroit
Tigers announcer Ernie Harwell does an enjoyable play-by-play, and for
an additional 45 minutes on the CD-ROM offers viewpoints and yarns
from his many years behind the mike. The charming stadium sounds in
Baseball for Windows beat those heard in any other baseball sim.

The knock on Miller’s game is that it’s not very intuitive, and proba-
bly has the steepest learning curve of any product on the market. I’ve
never understood why Miller Associates didn't combine the modules,
instead of forcing gamers to know when to click separate League
Manager, Advanced Draft or Baseball for Windows icons. Consolidating
the modules would make the game much less confusing for novices,
with no loss in functionality.

Another Miller Associates product, the Bill James Electronic
Baseball Encyclopedia, is a must-have product for fans of the national
pastime, and its slats may be imported into Baseball for Windows. Bill
James on CD-ROM is the final word in statistical analysis, allowing
users to look up stats on any professional ballplayer that ever played,
compare them, graph them and print them. In short, the Bill James
Encyclopedia slices and dices stats any way you want 'em.

WORKIN' IN A DIAMOND MIND

Diamond Mind Baseball is the essence of the stat-based game: all sta-
tistics, no pizzazz. It can shake and bake the numbers as well as or better
than any game on the market, but it makes no attempt whatsotver at
graphics. If the idea of a game that’s all blue screen puts you off, then
skip ahead. If, however, you’re willing to give a glance to a little game
with a big-time statistical engine, then Diamond Mind may appeal to you.

No rookie, Diamond Mind was formerly known as Pursue The
Pennant, under a licensing agreement between its designer and the
board game company of the same name. Now out on Iheir own, the
Diamond Mind folks offer a sim that has much to recommend it, espe-
cially for seasonal replays. It's one of the fastest autoplay games avail-
able, zipping through the entire National League 1995 schedule in an
astonishing five minutes on a Pentium 133. By comparison, the pre-
release version of FPS Baseball Pro took hours to sim a smaller league.

Not only is Diamond Mind nimble, but it's deep, too, with hundreds of
statistical categories available. The interface, however, is about as excit-
ing as watching grass grow, and some may find working through the
game’s layered approach to locating information rather tedious,

TONY LARUSSA 3: 1996 EDITION

For the new season, Stormfront Studios has released an update to
their popular Tony LaRussa Baseball 3. One notable improvement is the
inclusion of head-to-head statistics for each batter and pitcher. Does
your light-hitting shortstop own Greg Maddux? Better give him a start
when the Braves are in town. Be forewarned, though, that using the
head-to-head option in computer-simulated games can slow play down
noticeably Stormfront has also factored in situational batting perfor-
mance, impacting how hitters will do with runners in scoring position,
or pinch-hitting, for example,

Tony3: 96’s auto-play deserves mention, as it’s quick, if not espe-
cially accurate. CGW simulated an entire American League season in
under 10 minutes. Stats were skewed to the high side offensively,
though, with sixteen players cracking 30 or more homers. One out-
fielder had 89 errors and only three putouts, although this was an iso-
lated case, and looks as though it may be an internal rating error.

Oddly enough, only five saves were recorded in the entire league.
Finally, the beta version we looked at had RBIs listed as a percentage,
rather than the traditional raw number. Hopefully these glitches will be
addressed in the final release.

Overall, though, Tony 3: 1996 qualifies as a fun graphics-oriented
sim that’s easy to navigate, thanks to its intuitive, button-driven interface.
Learning the mechanics of hitting and pitching can be tricky, and user-
controlled fielding is best left to experienced Tony players.

The game includes a Fantasy Draft feature, as well as what
Stormfront calls the GM Challenge, which is somewhat akin to career
leagues like those found in the Front Page Sports series. Tony 3: 1996
also includes three announcers-Mel Alien, Lon Simmons and Hank
Greenwald-who are all enjoyable and provide consistent voice-overs
throughout the game. If you prefer, you can toggle the announcers off
and get on with the action.

OUHA HERE!

With such a wide variety of computer baseball games available, the
biggest problem facing most players will be deciding which one to get.
Narrow it down by setting your priorities first. Is it graphics and action
that sends you back for more, or are stats what makes your knuckle ball
flutter? Either way, if you’re ready to play ball, there’s a game out there
for you, coach.

Next month, Dennis McCauley's sports column focuses on
MicroLeague Baseball 6.0.

BASE

INSTINCTS

Sierra’s Baseball Franchise Heads
For Another Winning Season

BY DENNIS McCauley

S ierra’s Front Page Sports line has established itself
as one of the most successful ongoing sports
series in the annals of computer gaming. While
most of the competition plays catch-up, Sierra's
Sims tend to dominate their respective markets
year after year. CGW recently got a sneak peek at
the much-awaited Front Page Sports Baseball Pro 96, scheduled for
midsummer release, and while the near-beta version we saw was unfin-
ished in some areas and awaited fine-tuning in others, there was
enough beef to indicate that,
for baseball fans, 1996 could
be a very good year.

While the previous incarna-
tion of FPS Baseball, released
in 1994, was strictly an MS-
DOS version, the latest vintage is a native Windows 95 product, and
that itself is big news. The game's lineage is apparent, however, and
anyone familiar with past Front Page releases— either baseball or
football-should be able to jump in and navigate through the pro-
gram easily.

>HOMER SIM, SON Sierra's improved graphics in FPS Baseball Pro give
an edge to the action when sliding for home.

er-!evel decisions, such as when to make the double-switch, and
whether to have potato chips or pretzels during the 7lh inning stretch.
Gamers who want to capture the leisurely pace that is the essence of
baseball can opt to play pitch by pitch, while hard-charging Type-A per-
sonalities can toggle single-pitch mode and be done with it.

With a little effort, players can input historical clubs into the game,
or import their teams from the '94 version. Of course. Baseball Pro 96
retains the career mode that has become a signature of the Front Page
series. Gamers can draft, trade and allocate spring training time in an
effort to mold their teams. This aspect of the game holds great poten-
tial, since astute managers should be able to build their rosters to suit
the dimensions and characteristics of their stadium, be it Wrigtey Field
or the Astrodome. Whether the 96 version fulfills its career mode
promise remains to be seen, however. Past editions have been criti-
cized for their failure to reflect in a meaningful way the skill changes
that occur over the course of a ballplayer’s career.

^SNEAK

^PREVIEW

GAMESTiLL IN DEVELOPMENT

BLEACHER FEATURES

Speaking of ballparks, Baseball Pro 96 incorporates 3D models of
every current major-league park. The stadium graphics are quite realis-
tic and easily the best to date of any baseball sim. In general the game
is much more graphically appealing than the previous edition. For
this year’s model. Sierra's graphics crew employed the same high-
res motion-capture-based animation that made FPS Pro Football 96
so dazzling. While this technology provides very fluid player move-
ment, it does leave some very obvious jagged edges in close-up
shots. Perhaps the oddest graphical occurrence in Baseball Pro 96,
though, is the ball itself, which occasionally takes on the dimen-
sions of an overripe cantaloupe. Fruit salad, anyone?

Sierra’s well-done CAMS (camera angle management system) is
back, offering near-unlimited viewing angles as well as a chance for
gamers to save and edit tapes of their big plays. Sierra is also touting
improved Al and a fast sim mode that they contend is an improve-
ment over the 94 model. Frankly, the sims that I ran on a high-end
Pentium were frustratingly slow-it took nine hours to go through half
a season-and the statisticai accuracy was nothing to write home
about. Hopefully these issues will be addressed by time the final
release takes the field.

SIMLASORDA

FPS Baseball Pro 96 offers plenty of gameplay options for would-be
managers. An arcade mode allows gamers to control the pitching, hit-
ting, and fielding of their players, while a managerial mode lets the
computer handle the mechanics, so you can concentrate on the high-

^00 MUCH REALISM? The sparse crowd in attendance at this game must
I have been modeled after the '94 strike season. Peanuts, anyone?

JULY 1996

For IBIVl®-PC & Compatibles on CD-ROM.
•800-879-PLAY http://www.microprose.com

o'lnatlon on Game Ratfngs. Mk'oProse Software, Inc. is an olficlal licensee of Magic: The Gathering,
tisleied trademark of Wizards of the Coast. Inc. ^1996 MicroPtose Softwaro. trie. All rights reserved.

Circle Reader Service ff215

^SPORTS SPECTACULAR

HOOP

DREAMS

Computer Basketball-
No Longer A 3- Point Shot

BY TERRY COLEMAN

J ohn Wooden was not merely the best basketball
coach ever, he was perhaps the best coach in any
sport: amateur or professional. He was also a
three-time All-American as a player. What most
people don’t know about the “Wizard of Westwood"
was that despite his sucoess at basketball. Wooden’s
favorite sport was actually baseball. He loved the
grace, the timelessness, the unhurried nature of the
most strategic of American team sports. Wooden did admit, however,
that basketball was probably the best sport for the average Ian, as it fea-
tured the fewest players on the field with the largest ball. Basketball was
the easiest to follow-and there was a lot of scoring, which helped sell
tickets.

What John Wooden might think ot computer basketball simulations
is open to speculation. But t imagine that he might allow himself a wry
smile at the grace and care with which NBA Live 96 is crafted; he’d
probably frown and roll that famous program tightly in displeasure over
College Slam; and he'd likely shake his head that stat-based sims are
still around in the action-heavy hoops world of the ‘90s.

i TAKiN' IT INSIDE NBA 96 actually puts the superior pcwer of the PC
to work with better Al and graphics. The surprise is that the PC controls are
better than the console versions.

SLAM DUNK

The original NBA Live is one of the best sports games of all time, as
significant to basketball as Front Page Sports Football was to the grid-
iron. It was the first action game that played like real basketball, instead
of some alien arcade hybrid. It would have been easy for EA Sports to
take the awards and get fat, as many modern athletes tend to do.
Instead, NBA Live 96 builds on the success of the original and corrects
many flaws, both in terms of action and simulation.

Whereas in the original too much emphasis was placed on when you
clicked the button, now the players’ actual abilities seem to make a bit
ot a difference. Make no misfake-this is still an action-heavy game; but
when you select Simulation mode, Ewing becomes the interior force for
the Knicks that he should be. Similarly, Dennis Rodman’s carrot-top
hairdo flashes as he pulls down realistic numbers of rebounds. Penny
Hardaway skies for elegant jumpers, and John Stockton defies Father
Time with assist after record-setting assist. The big surprise is that the
stats are in the ballpark. NBA Live 96 isn't as realistic as a pure stat
Sim, but it far outshines any other action-oriented hoops game-includ-
ing the original NBA Live.

Trading is more robust, but it lacks the appeal of Front Page Football
Pro’s career leagues. You can create custom players as well, but it
would be really nice to see EA furnish hoops fans with some all-time
great teams-maybe in NBA Live 97? Also, the injury ratings are far too
forgiving-if these were right, Shag wouldn’t have missed more than 2-3
games, instead of the third of the season he fanned on in real life.

These quibbles are minor, however, when you consider the vastly
improved Al and the Increased play-calling options. About the only limi-
tations on the design-you can even call plays on the fly now-are the
authentic NBA rules, which prohibit “illegal defenses" such as zones. If
EA ever gets around to a college version, this engine would be perfect
to showcase Kentucky’s full-court press, Temple’s infamous matchup
zone or Dale Brown’s bizarre defenses at LSU. Until that time, i’ll keep
running the pick-n’-roll with Karl Malone-and continue converting rat-
ings for Wilt Chamberlain.

COLLEGE PASSES

Another action approach. College Slam, doesn’t make the transition
from cartridge to the PC pros quite so well as NBA Live 96. More Pac-
Man than basketball, the best defense is to set the basket on fire so that

Tru(FantasyBask(tl)oll

SPECTACULAR

option to simulate
the results via com-
puter, or to piay each
of the 63 games
live.'' Passing is fairiy
intuitive, and the sys-
tem even works weli
with a joystick or key-
board. it’s possibie
that there may even
be modem piay,
would give this
big edge over the

At this eariy stage, the Al is stiil in deveiopment, but the game does have
a true basketball feel. You can work the ball inside, or drop back in a zone,
and passing is crisp. Regardless, this game isn't trying to compete against
NBA Live as much as offer a bridge between the action and stat-based bas-
ketbaii sims, with a fun recruitment and piayer development mode.

"I NEVER FOULED OUV’-WILT CHAMBERLAIN

How do the stat-based sim guys stay in business? They continue to
support their products year after year. Lance Haftner Games has one of
the most playable systems on the market in Full Court Basketball and

Basketball: The Pro Game. There are no buttons, no mouse
input, no visuals to speak of-just realistic statistics and chai-
lenging gamepiay. Like Haffner’s 3 -In-1 Football, the empha-
sis is on quick play: a fuii game of Full Court is playabie in
30 minutes. Pro Gai.ie in about an hour. Antiquated though it
might seem, these are quite manageable for hotseat play,
although the strong Al benefits from Lance having had a
decade to perfect it.

The reai reason that gamers are stili drawn to Lance's
basketball games is the chance to iet James Worthy drive the
lane against Wiit Chamberlain, to have Bili Russell block
shots by Shaq, or to let Jerry West match three-pointers with
Larry Bird. Could John Wooden’s best with Lew Alcindor
have stopped Duke Irom winning back-to-back titles, or would both
teams have fallen to Bobby Knight’s undefeated 1976 lU Hoosiers?

While the possibilities are endiess, the method you use to get there
could be better. Lance’s market share could only be helped if he re-did
these games in Windows. Also, while schedules are fairly easy to gener-
ate, only The Pro Game comes with them pre-generated-a real time-
saver. Hopefully, Lance will upgrade these graphically, as he did with
Full Count Baseball (see page 76). Still, if it’s realistic hoops play you
want, both of these games are still a bargain-especialiy The Pro Game.

'SCORCHED SCHOLARSHIP COLLEGE Slam, with its burning
hoops and power pills, bends the rim in all the wrong
directions.

opponent can't score. If you find this sort of thing funny, you’ll
probably gobble up the power pills and slam away, hardly worrying that
ball never goes out of bounds. Aside from the rampant silliness, I
can’t stomach a college hoops game-even as a bad joke-that leaves
powerhouses like two-time NCAA champ Louisville out of the lineup,
again, you can always have a Mario clone as your point guard...

A more serious approach comes from GTE Entertainment, whose
NCAA Championship Basketball attempts to be the Front Page Sports
simulation of the College hoops arena. Like Front Page FB, it offers a
mode, where you recruit top prep stars into your program and
develop them over four years. Some of the ratings are odd: why would a
shooting guard be rated twice as high for three-pointers as for shorter-
range baskets? Still, there are some nice touches, such as great leapers
not necessarily being the best rebounders-at least until they learn to
out.

Most major
colleges are
included, along
with some pret-
ty obscure
ones, all orga-
nized into
regions. At the
end of the reg-
ular season,

■ used Haffner’s The Pro Game to pit 16 of the greatest teams
of all time in a season-long competition to determine which
team was truly “the best." So that older teams could be
competitive, I selected the option that played in the visiting
team’s style. On one occasion playing with older rules, George
Mikan of ’54 Minneapolis outscored Shaquille O’Neal 35-24, as
the modern player was baffled by Mikan’s old-fashioned, but
effective hook shot.

The competition was so tough that no team came close to
eclipsing Chicago’s record of 72 wins. The NY Knicks of 1970 had
the stingiest defense, while Larry Bird’s '86 Celtics led the league
in scoring. The biggest disappointment was the LA Lakers, who fin-
ished below .500, despite Kareem and Magic Johnson’s excellent
play. The biggest surprise was the ’59 Celtics, where Bob Cousy
stole the assist crown from John Stockton. The Celtics fell, howev-
er. to Jordan and the '93 Bulls, who faced the ’72 Lakers in the
final. Both teams were simitar: aging superstars (Pippen and
Jordan vs. Chamberlain and Jerry West); role-players (Dennis
Rodman, Tony Kukoc); tough defense and accurate shooting.

The series hinged on whether Jordan could get Wilt in foul
trouble; otherwise, “The Stilt" did anything he wanted to the out-
matched Bulls centers. Ironically, the plan worked to perfection in
games three and four; but when the Bulls had a chance to steal
game five in overtime, their poor tree-throw shooting betrayed
them. Jerry West then scored 32 points to put game six, and the
series, out of reach.

The replay was a bit of a pain to set up, since I had to enter
every game in my make-believe schedule. But statistics nuts (like
me, obviously) can spend hours pouring over the results of
games betvreen their hoops heroes, which makes all the ciunki-
ness worth it. And while the results of a replay like this aren’t
“realistic" in the purest sense, th^ do possess a ring of "truth."
And until NBA Live gets its act together and includes past great
teams, we can be thankful Lance Haffner is a sports
dreamer like so many of us.

JULY 1996

A sheriffs deputy is mUPdBPBlI.
You didn't see anything, but
the bad guys SbOOt first and
ask questions iater. The cops
want you for the murder, and at
this point they seem iike a
better option than..^

interactive

suspense

Your legs feel like lead. Your
heart feels like it's going to pOIIHd
right out of your chest. Your lungs
are scrfiamliig for air. If you could
just get to the...

Reai actors.

Real time.
Real tough!

Truth. Innocence. They don't
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^ .^ee yfiur '

c0ff r

'Xililih. r

►SPORTS SPECTACULAR

PUCK
OFF '96

New Hockey Games Slice Up The Ice

BY CORDON COBLE

' ilh the release o( tour new products in a 12-
month span, this is a prolitic lime tor com-
puter hockey. It wouldn't be in virtually any
other gaming category (can you say “hover-
craft racing?"}, but it is here.

This foursome swells the current hockey
line-up to an all-time high, with product running the gamut from ultra-
graphical to text-based, and from really good to pathetic. Is there one
game out there that manages to failhtully recreate a true-to-life hockey
environment? Let’s hit the ice and survey the competition.

FIGHT THE POWER

Virgin’s upcoming Windows 95 game, NHL PowerPlay 96, should
provide the most realistic hockey action ever on the PC. (Note that
“should" is the operative word here, as final code wasn’t available in
time for this article.)

PowerPlay’s strength lies in convincing us that there are real, think-
ing hockey players on the ice. Will he go this way. that way or pass the
puck? it depends on the situation and the player. Will penalty killers
automatically ice the puck? No, that depends on just how hard he’s
being pressured. Are there any ’’sure-bet’’ plays-liftle holes in the pro-

>GLIDING ACROSS THE ICE Not only does NHL PoiverPuy 96 look like hockey,
I it’s the closest you'll come to feeling the puck on your stick without actually
stepping onto the rink.

gramming that allow you to be abnormally successful with one
tactic? It there is, I’ve yet to discover it.

It’s this on-ice realism that game designers Radical
Entertainment (also responsible for Breh Hull Hockey, a game
long on ideas but short on execution) are counting on. If the final
release is free of the repetition and often nonsensical actions
seen in other games (and sometimes evident in the PowerPlay
beta), that alone will make the game worthwhile for the serious
computer hockey player.

It will have to be, because PowerPlay is missing a lair chunk
of the graphic flair, managerial options and little extras to which
we’ve become accustomed with games like Electronic Arts' NHL
Hockey 96. For starters, PowerPlay has just one panning, 70-
degree end-zone camera angle, and players are too small tor
team logos and numbers on their jerseys. Games will run in VGA
only-a definite step backward.

JULY 1996

On the other hand, player animation is very strong, with slapshots
that differ from wrist shots, and hooking that differs from poke check-
ing. Strategists will be disappointed by the lack of player trades, but will
fall in love with other coaching options, including man-to-man versus,
zone coverage, speedy versus cautious breakouts, and more, all
changeable on the fly. And yes, coaching ploys do have a pronounced
effect on the action. For hockey enthusiasts who prefer game realism
over graphic flair, this could be a compelling product.

ICE ICE BABY

Just switching on EA's breakthrough NHL Hockey 96 is a rush. Great
sound, 21st-century menu screens, stats as far as the eye can see,and
nearly-hallucinatory graphics that include numbered and logo-embellished
jerseys and ice reflections make the game seem drop-dead awesome at
first. In SVGA with detail options cranked, it’ll run like a slug on anything
but a Pentium 90 or above, but the visual show is almost worth it.

NHL Hockey 96, though, isn't something that appreciates with time.
That is its flaw. After the initial thrills and spills, exquisite periphery gives
way to repetitive on-ice tactics, questionable Al and a sense that no
matter what you do, the computer will decide the outcome. It’s not all
bad by any means, and the "team concept" and managerial options are
actually very good, but you’ll recognize the problem when you’ve blast-
ed your 20th point-blank shot of the period without a goal, finally resort-
ing to the infamous "one-timer" from some ludicrous angle to finally
score.

Goaltenders that hold the puck forever even when you've skated clear
of the offensive zone, power play units that become incredibly stupid,
penalty killers that ice the puck for no good reason, icings that you can
almost always beat-the the list goes on and on. It may be great for
graphic hounds and those new to hockey, but NHL Hockey 96 is not the
game for serious hockey aficionados.

The game has some inspired touches, with a number of pre-game
and pre-season options such as custom-constructed teams, trades and
a practice mode. It also packs the best face-off and fighting sequences
of any PC hockey game I’ve seen.

But on the ice, everything switches to hyper-drive. It’s a flurry of bod-
ies and sticks as teams mill about in complete disarray. Curious
"ughs,"’'oofs’’ and other wails of pain buffet the audio landscape, and
the whole thing begins to resemble a horizontal scrolling death match
in no short order. Too bad.

WAYNE'S WORLD

Not to be confused with Bethesda’s Vi/ayne Gretzky series from the
early '90s (which, in retrospect, featured several innovations and was
actually a satisfactory game), Time-Warner Interactive’s V\/ayne Gretzky
AHO THE NHLPA All- Stars isn’t nearly of the same caliber. Unlike it’s
real-life namesake, Gretzky is a strong starter but lacks finish.

DEMERIT

Surely Merit Studio's World Hookey 95 is someone’s twisted joke,
made even worse by wrapping it in packaging that mimicks EA's infinite-
ly more sophisticated NHL Hockey 95, Heck, there's even a quote right
there on the box, favorably comparing the two.

Indeed, there are comparisons to be made, but in every single case.
Merit's game comes up short-and I mean road-kill short. No doubt the
shoddiest hockey game in recent memory. World Hockey starts with an
ugly interface; continues with incorrect rule interpretation and a baftling
viewing perspective; and ends with confusing gameplay that bears no
resemblance to any game of hockey ever played.

?BRANO NEW KEY If you’re itching for a shiny new pair of virtual roller skates. NHL Hockey
96 tv EA Sports has your graphic ticket-but is short on long-term gameplay.

TEXT FOR TEXT'S SAKE

Despite the proliferation of graphic-based games,
there will always be room in the marketplace tor text-
based sports software, which statistic and fantasy lovers
play out "what if" situations and generally compile loads
of facts and figures.

Of the few producers of hockey text games, Lance
Haffner is the most active, having just released a new
version of Hat Trick complete with 1996 teams and. as
usual, selected "great" teams from 1960 to 1992.
Otherwise, this little program hasn’t changed much over
the last few years, still with the same puzzling manual
and without any graphical touches. But it does allow
more coaching and playing options when manually con-
testing a game than does its competition, APBA Pro
Hockey, so if text-based hockey is your thing, this is the
one I recommend.

JULY 1996

►SPORTS SPECTACULAR

More Courses Ori The Faimy

BY SCOTT HAY

You might think a links sim from Maxis, the SimCity foiks, would
be more along the lines of miniature golf. Close, but not quite. On
the horizon is SimGolf for Windows 95. featuring a built-in course
construction kit, multiplayer support (network, modem and Internet),
and on-line tutorials from designer Robert Trent Jones, Another
promising innovation is the Maxis MouseSwing interface, which
uses mouse movement to recreate backswing and bail strikes. A
cure for the dreaded swing meter? Let's hope so.

The game will come with three pre-designed 18-hole courses.
Players wilt then have the ability to modify these existing courses or
design new links from scratch, then share them with fellow SimGolf
enthusiasts. This is the first course designer since Accolade's highly
successful Jack Nigklaus series, and looks like it will add consider-
able replay value to Maxis’ golfing title.

C olt is one of the few sports that lends itself
incredibly well to computer simulation.
Accessible by players of every imaginable skill
level, it’s small wonder golf sims are so popu-
lar. Thanks to advances in technology and con-
tinually evolving design innovations, this time-
honored genre has never looked or played better.

Currently, the PC leaderboard features four major players. Access
Software’s Links series-LiNKS 386, Links 386 CD and Links Pro CD-is
the undisputed software champ, though it’s showing signs of old age.
Next is Microsoft Golf 2,0, which is essentially Links licensed for
Windows, containing most of the features from the DOS original.
Electronic Arts’ PGA Tour 96 is a sensational first effort noted for its
smooth interface and engaging play variations. Finally, the Shark's back
in Greg Norman Ultimate Challenge Golf from Grolier Interactive.
Designed for Windows, it features educational value that should appeal
to both novice and veteran golfers.Gamers should also look for Maxis’
SiM Golf (see sidebar) and Headgate’s The Golf Club (#140, p. 37) in
the near future.

What should sim golfers look for when making their first foray onto
the digital fairway? Many factors contribute to a game’s overall success,
but the five major considerations are: graphics, player interface, realism,
course add-ons and options.

PICTURE PERFECT

Thanks to Links’ pioneering efforts in digitized course graphics, pho-
torealism is the buzz word for most new golf sims. Typically, fairways
and greens are created by mapping grassy textures onto a contour grid,
modeled after the terrain features of the actual location. Trees, foliage.

ABOVE MR

WINDOW DRESSINGS MS-GoLF 2,0, and DOS cousin Links, use separate
windows to display wirious views, stroke setups, shot info, scorecards
and club distance charts.

bunkers, water hazards and peripheral touches such as clouds, cart
paths and static backgrounds, are then added to create a realistic envi-
ronment.

The tough part in any golf game, Ihough, is blending compuler-ren-
dered fairways with digitized objects (trees, bushes and rocks) and mak-
ing it look natural. Links, MS-6olf and PGA Tour 96 all do an excellent
job biending disparate graphic elements into a smooth, cohesive whole.
Only Norman fails to consistently achieve this balance. Its parts and
pieces sometimes don’t match up, as if rendered wilh different degrees
of focus, lighting and contrast. The resulting cut-and-paste quality is
quite noticeable, but mitigated somewhat by the rich 16-bit HiColor
palette. But Norman does let you play a fully functional game from an
overhead perspective, with amazingly detailed topographic renderings.

Each game here also offers video fly-bys of each hole. PGA Tour 96’s
fly-bys feature excellent voice-over advice, providing detailed hints, tips
and caveats, Fiy-bys in Norman are also good, narrated by Norman him-
self, Both Links and MS-Golf feature fairly generic fiy-bys, augmented
with lips from Ihe pros. Links Pro CD has tiresome comic commentary
by Bobcat Goldthwait, something most players can do without.

SWINGING THE CLUB

In real golf, a solid hit is the combination of many things: hip and
shoulder movement, backswing and follow-through. In computer golf,
however, it all boils down to one twitchy finger. Although most games let
you adjust variables such as stance, aim, height and spin, your final
success or failure is measured by your ability to use the dreaded swing
meter. Whether circular (Links, MS-Golf, PGA Tour 96) or straight
(Norman), swing meters all work the same: click once to put the meter
bar in motion, again to set your power, and again to make contact wilh
the ball. Click too soon on the downswing and you’ll hook or draw to
the left; click too late and you’il produce a slice or fade.

Both PGA Tour 96 and Norman have intuitive swing meters which
automatically display the optimum power and impact marks on the
color-calibrated gauge. These well-designed meters remove much of the
frustration from putting. Links and MS-Golf use uncalibrated swing
meters, making it extremely difficult to accurately gauge strokes.

All games here utilize an adiustable "stick" to aim the ball and

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►SPORTS SPECTACULAR

^ assess distance to the pin. PGA Tour 96 takes this one step further,
i however, with its ingenious Targeting Arc System, which lets you view
I the proposed ball trajectory prior to your shot.

; Besides an intuitive swing meter, a good inlertace also needs acces-
■ sibility of options and customizable screen sizes. Links boasts more
’ than 340 different combinations of screen layouts, while PGA Tour 96

imilar details, including a better assortment of interactive viewing
Norman has the best interface, with large buttons on the bottom
le screen and more options available via pull-down menus at the

A TRUE GOLF SIMULATOR

Although all of the golf sims presented here take a serious approach

the sport, some are more detailed than others. Norman definitely
wins this round, offering an amazing variety of playing conditions, eaoh
contributing subtle impacts on gameplay, including wind speed, tem-
perature, ground conditions, and even ball construction. Norman is also
the only game with pure simulation play-as opposed to twitchy-finger
arcade mode-based on more than 40 user-defined golfer characteris-

The rest of the pack only offers computer-controlled simulated play-
ers. In this regard, PGA Tour 96 offers the best leaderboard, featuring
14 real PGA Tour pros, including Craig Stadier, Tom Kite and Fuzzy
Zoeller, each programmed with true-life characteristics and video cap-
tured swings.

OPTIONS

Though all golf games come down to whacking around a little white
ball, designers can distinguish their games by including options. The
Macintosh version of Links Pro CD, for example, features voice recogni-
allowing you to select clubs and shot types with voice commands.
Links and MS-Golf 2.0 also offer the ability to record golf sessions,
others can load up and compete against. Both games are the
ones in this roundup to offer network and modem play.

A solid variety of game modes also breathes lite into a goif sim. PGA

THE LAKE PGA TouR 96 has the most intuitive swing meter, using a
color-callbratect gauge to displ^ optimum hitting pcwer.

STORMIN' NORMAN Greg Norman Golf has the best interface, with a
I large screen, an array of buttons at the bottom and pull-down menus at
I the top of the screen.

Tour 96 leads the pack with the best assortment ol game modes,
including stroke, practice, tournament, sudden death playotfs. Skins
Game, and Shoot-Out. MS-Golf offers Skins scoring, but the other titles
only allow adjustment of player skill levels, with no variations beyond
basic stroke play. Only Links and MS-Golf allow you to print scorecards.

One of the best options I've seen is the interactive lesson found in
Norman. Called the Lesson Tee, this ingenious feature sets players up
with nine different golfing challenges, describes potential problems and
solutions, lets you adjust your stroke accordingly, and then evaluates
your performance.

ADDING A FEW COURSES

Sometimes, playing the same 18 holes, over and over again, can be
a little too repetitive. If variety is the spice that flavors your game, look
no further than Access' Links Championship Course series, the mother
lode of diverse golfing challenges. Here's the lineup so far: Banff
Springs, The Belfry, Bighorn, Bountiful, Castle Pines, Coghill, Devil's
Island, Firestone, Innisbrook, Mauna Kea, Pebble Beach, Pelican Hill,
PiNEHURST, Prairie Dunes, Riviera, and Troon North.

The beauty of the Access add-ons is their compatibility with
Links 386, Links 386 CD, Links 386 Pro CD, and Microsoft Golf
for Windows (version 1.0 or later). Links 386 CD even allows you
to convert the original, low-res Links courses for use with the
newer graphics engine.

All the other golf sims come up short in the add-on category
PGA Tour 96 comes with two courses. Spyglass Hill and TPC at
Avenel. EA recently added Spanish BAY-Scottish-style links on
the Monterey coast— hopefully with more courses in the works.
Time will tell if Grolier's Norman establishes a strong enough
foothold to justify additional courses. The title ships with two
courses. Medalist Goif Club, co-designed by Norman and Pete
Dye, and the fictional Dorset Cliffs.

The availability of add-on disks is a chicken-and-egg dilemma.

If a golf sim founders on the market, additional courses are a
wasted expense. However, the promise of additional courses can
be a huge selling point. In the final analysis, the winners are
those companies who exhibit a strong initial commitment to their
product, such as Access’ Links series.

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SPECTACULAR

THE AMBASSADOR
OF COLF GAMES

I SNEAK
'PREVIEW

GAME STILL IN DEVELOPMENT

Continues
To Dominate The Fairway

BY SCOTT MAY

f the governors of golf had to pick an ambassador to the sport,
they couldn't do much better than Links, Access Software's
incredibly popular simulation series. It’s a series that has
inspired several generations of newcomers to learn the sport.
Not bad for "mere" computer software. Well, now that everyone
has had the chance to
savor the latest in the series.

Links 386 CD, Access has
decided to move the proverbial
carrot forward, dangling this
beautiful morsel within the
reach of sim golfers. If you ever needed a good reason to upgrade, the
new graphically enhanced Links LS could be it.

Links first hit the digital fairway in 1989, based on Bruce and Roger
Carver’s immensely popular World Class Leaderboard Golf. Hallmark
features of the original Links included video-captured golfer animations
and photorealistic. Subsequent revisions improved the graphic display,
while adding more goodies such as stereo sound effects, fly-by hole
previews, audio commentary and, for Mac users, voice recognition and
multiplayer games via modem or network connection. Meanwhile, more
than a dozen add-on course disks secured the game’s position as reign-
ing champ.

The blueprint for the Links LS series (LS stands for Legends in
Sports) is for each release to feature a new golfing resort-complete
with a 3D virtual tour of its clubhouse-along with the
home course of a golf legend. The initial release
includes the twin courses of Hawaii's Kapalua Resort,
along with Arnold Palmer’s home course of Latrobe
Country Club, with a multimedia peek inside Arnie’s
personal office and library, employing a 16-bit version
of the virtual reality engine from Under a Killing
Moon. The program also contains extensive video
interviews with Palmer and Ed Seay, his co-designer at
Latrobe. The plan is to replicate this format, spotlight-
ing different golf legends, in future Links Tour Puyer

add-on disks. In time, players will not only have a solid

collection of famous courses, but a virtual library of
golf knowledge from the best in the business.

The framework and much of the gameplay of Links

LS have been preserved. Everything else, though, has "

been revamped for today’s powerhouse PCs. If you have a local-bus
video card with at least 2 MB of RAM, the new graphics engine will
offer you resolutions up to 1280x1024 in 16 million colors and a stun-

ning 1600x1200 in 65,000 colors. Paired with a 17-inch or larger moni-
tor, the beauty and scope of the game’s onscreen real estate is
absolutely breathtaking. Other new graphic delights include vastly
improved light source technology, 3D perspective scaling, and some of
the most realistic haze and sun bleaching effects you’ve ever seen.

The player interface sports a sleek new look, and the bottom control
panel now appears and disappears at the flick of a mouse, like the
Windows 95 Taskbar. The familiar swing meter features a new look, but
essentially functions the same. Up to four user-defined camera windows
can be placed anywhere on the main view screen, as well as a chat
window for modem and network play. Though a DOS-based program,
the game runs acceptably in Windows 95, provided you have 16 MB
RAM. Access does plan to release a native Win95 version next year.

Other new features include multiple play modes-finallyl-such as
Stroke Play, Match Play, Best Ball and Skins, Having trouble seeing
the ball at high resolutions? Now you can either change the pixel
size of the ball or turn on automatic ball tracking. You can also rede-
fine system sounds and <,

golfer animations, '

depending on your sys- HHB

tern speed and storage IHBi

space, including variable
size and motion detail
(15 to 30 frames per
As

you can record
game and then
compete against that
recorded performance,

TO A HILL Multiple camera win-
dows leave you with no questions as to
path of your ball’s flight.

The new game enhances this
feature by allowing you to also
record a computer opponent,
whose performance fluctuates
with every replay. Another inter-
esting new feature allows remote
opponents to play the same
round of golf, unlinked, then
compare their final outcomes
using a built-in score verification
utility.

If you ever thought that the
Links series was losing its edge,

■ then Links LS will surely turn you

around. With new features and graphics that push the envelope.

Access' next level of gameplay looks set to establish another period of
dominance on the golfing sim fairway.

GLORIOUS GREENS The control interface pops up
only when needed, so as not to obstruct Links LS’s
dazzling 24-bit color vistas.

JULY 1996

TUffTNICmUl

;j|ii7iiiay}Ji/iJiM

'Barnone,";--«„rptavjf
Ihe lines' g„ediblespec«j

Supports

Coming Soon

For more onAiis, ask your local software retailer.

WWW Site (hltp://www.3(lreQlms.coni) CIS (Keyword REALMS) AOL (Go 3D REALMS)
Software Creations Web BBS (http://www.sw(bbs.tom)

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INCORPORATED

REALtrr ts OUR GAME.

►SPORTS SPECTACULAR

Games For The
Sports-weary Sports Fan

BY JEFF GREEN

I f you Ihink there’s more to life than baseball, football, bas-
ketball and hockey, you may not be right, but you're certain-
ly not alone. While these games tend to dominate the com-
puter sports scene— just as they do in real life-there are
always alternatives for those tired of the same old thing. We
switch you now to CGWs ESPN2.

KICK ME

Thanks to the '94 World Cup in Pasadena, U.S. interest in soccer is
finaliy growing after decades of indifference. Soccer sims, too, long
in other markets, now seem poised to cross over as well.
Electronic Arts' FIFA Soccer 96 is a worthy member of the compa-
ny’s great sports lineup. Deftly straddling the arcade/sim line, the game
offers rich, satisfying action and enough decision-making to keep things
(relatively) honest. EA has improved the Al in this version, so strategies
such as game plan, formation and pitch coverage actually seem to
affect gameplay. The Al also seems tougher: thankfully, it's now pretty
(for both you and the computer) to score. So even if you're
stinkin’ up the field like I’ve been known to do, your opponent isn’t nec-
going to rack up 15 goals by half-time.

VR Soccer '96, the first release from Interplay’s VR Sports division,
has one big pius: awesome graphics. The 3D motion-captured players
are amazingly realistic, and the 360-degree field of vision, allowing you
to roam ali over the fieid from virtually any perspective (including first-
person from any player or ref) is sfate-of-the-art coolness. Game options
robust, with 44 teams to choose from for exhibition, tournament or
cup play, while multiplayer options let you play with up to 20 people
a network.

Yes, the chrome looks good, but gameplay-wise VR Soccer could use
tuneup. Some of the setup is confounding
instance, why can the formation only be
when the ball is in play?), and the con-
are awkward-a problem compounded
an annoying manual that only discusses
passing and shooting techniques with a joy-
stick, use of which is supposed to be option-
Worse, the Al seems maddeningly unreal-
istic at times. My goalie-computer-con-
only-was either blind, a moron, or
because he was letting shots roil by
my grandmother could have stopped-
and she’s dead. We'll have a full review of VR
Soccer next month or you can red card us.

DISCUS AMONGST YOURSELVES Olympic Summer Games puts an arcade
spin on Olympic events like the discus,

PELE WITH ME VR SOCCER lets you view the action
from the first-person perspective of any player Now
where’s that BEG when you really need it?

CARRYING A TORCH

Only lazy people will be watching the Olympics this summer. Serious
athletes will be plopped in front of their computers, playing Olympic-
style games. So far, we’ve looked at betas of two titles timed for a sum-
mer release.

Bruce Jenner's World Class Decathlon from interactive Magic
attempts to meld strategy with 3D twitch action as you make your way
through the 10-event he-man extravaganza. You’ll need to allocate points
for live skills-sprinling middie distance running, weight throwing,
jumping and coordination. How you divvy them out will affect your per-
formance. We looked at early beta code, and the Al wasn’t really in
place yet, so it remains to be seen how well the stats tie into the game
action. This will probably make or break this game.

Eidos interactive’s (formerly U.S. Gold) Olympic Summer Games lets
you participate in 15 different events, including track and field, swim-
ming, fencing and shooting. This is a more unabashed arcade tille-the
pre-release documentation goes on about “button bashing” but men-
tions not a word about stats or strategy. This doesn’t mean it Isn't real-
istic, though. In my first attempt at the discus I tossed it straight up in
the air and it landed smack on top of my head. That’s about as close to
real life as a sports sim is going to get for me.

FISH FRY

And then, there’s the brave new world of fishing simulations. No, it's
not as easy as it sounds, and there’s a lot
more gameplay than you might think.
Following Sierra’s Trophy Bass, which
received four stars in our February issue
(and which has a sequel due this winter), is
GameTek’s Fly Fishing (working title), due
later this summer, which lets you fish in
three U.S. rivers— the Yellowstone, the Green
River and the Silver Creek. Choice of fly, lime
of day, weather, river depth and temperature
all factor into your search for trout. Nice
video-captured rivers and an encyclopedia of
fishing lips round out a title that may hook
gamers of all types. %

PS&

rsi

mr 800-699-4263', 7/f;

1 u ■ POB 234 Dept 10718 Rochester, VT 05767

Orders/Queslions; cbisales@sover.nel Customer Service: cbiserv@sover.nel

'THRUSTMAS-
TER F-16 FLCS’ A

versatile stid< with
virtually unlimited
programmability. It
looks and feels like
it was ripped out
of the jet. The ulti-
mate edge for any
flight sim. Offers a
grip modeled after
the F-16 Fighting
Fakx>n, four 8-way
hat switches & a
dual stage trig-
ger. S108

'STRIFE' is a fast paced 3D action game with a
riveting RPG storyline. Here medieval and high
technologies combine to form a world where war-
fare and oppression are a way of life. CD $42

'WITCHAVEN 2’
More power,
excitment and
gruesome, bloody
encounters with
vile creatures and
viaous warriors, A
greatly enhanced
"Build" engine will
take you deeper
into this 1st per-
son adventure
with non stop
action and
aggressive game-
play. CD $35

'GREY WOLF' is
commissioned for
service, and you
have been select-
ed to captain the
shipl Your mis-
sion Is to patrol the
Atlantic and
accomplish the
impossible. Stop
the convoys, avoid
the destroyers,
frigates, depth
charges, and the
big guns from the
battleships. CD SI 9

‘AH-64D LONG-
BOW’ combines
recent history with
a near future sce-
nario to create a
hard core heli-
copter simulation
with an unlimited
number of encoun-
ters. Two CD’s,
action video and 4
different mission
sets will pump
adrer^aline into any
diehard pilot’s
bbod. CD $51

IBM HARDWARE

Americn Laser Gm Gun $43

CH FieCombatstick $58
CH F16 Fighterstick $96
CHF16FlightStick $36
CH Flight Stick $28

CH Flight Stick Pro $48

CH Game Card 3 Auto $25

CH Mach 3 Joystick $25

CH Pedals $46

CH Pro Pedals $74

CH Pro Throttle $98

CH Throttle $62

CH Virtual Pilot Pro $69

Oiamnd Edge 2120 XLS272
Diamnd Edge 2200 XL3329
Dolphin Virtual Helm $139
GmeWve32 Plus ISA $139
Gravis Firebird $58

Gravis Grip Controllr $84
Gravis PC Game Pad $19
Gravis PhoenixyDescnt $83
Head-On Game MdemS129

Head-to-Head Cable $26

Joystick Extend Cable $9

Joystick Y-Cable $9

Joyswitch $33

Logitech WingMan Extr $45
Maxx Control Yoke $44

Msoft Natural Kybrd $91

Msott Sidewndr 3D $29

Msoft Sidewndr 3D Pro $56

SSI 525 SurrSnd Dec $179
SSI 1500 Home Thter $269
Sound Blaster 16 Value $95
Sound Blaster 32 IDE $152
Sound Galaxy BX2 $29
Sound Galaxy NX2 $49
SndGIxyNXPROie $139
SdGIxy NXP Mmdia Kt $49
SoundDrive16EZ ISAS109
SoundOriveieSCSI $139

IBM HARDWARE

Spaceball Avenger Ctrl $99
Stealth:

64 1 MBD-RamPCI $199
64 2 MB D Ram VLB $201
64 2 M D-Ram PCI $201
64 2 M V-RAM VLB $299
TEACSuprQuad $220
TM Driving Control T2 $1 08
TMF16TQS $108

TMFLCFieSystem $108
TM FLCS Limited Ed. $499
TM Flight Contr. Pro $99
TM Flight Control Sys $52
TM Game Card $25
TM Pro Play Golf Sys. S559
TM Rudder Contr. Sys. $98
TM Weapon Coni. Sys. $88
TM Wiz.Pinball Cntrl. $32
TM XL Action Control. $24
TM XLC Joystick Bundl $44
VFX1 Virt Realty HG $995

Virtual 10 PC $599

Virtual 10 PC Pro $799

Vivid 3D Sound $39

IBM ACTION

4x Frenzy $48

Blood 3D $48

CastleWolfMD2 $19

Castle Wolfenslein $19

Crusader No Remorse $48

Crusader:No Regret $52

CyberMage $44

Dark Forces $45

Die Hard Trilogy $46

Doom 2 $45

Doom2W95 $45

OukeNukem3D $48

Duke Nukem 3D SW $12

Fade to Black $29

IBM ACTION

Final Doom $46

FIrefight $38

Fortress Dr. Radiaki $1 5

Fortrss Dr Radiaki $15

Heretic Shad Serp Rdr $37

Hexen $49

Hexen Death Kings $25

Hexen W95 $52

HyperBlade $45

Magic Carpet 2 $29

Magic Carpet Plus $18

Master Levels Doom 2 $25

Maximum Roadkill $28

Mayhem $46

MortilicatorW95 $44

Powerslave W95 $42

Rebel Runner $12

Rise Triad Extreme $27

Rise of the Triad $16

Road Warrior $32

Ruins $44

Shadow Warrior $49

Skull Cracker $41

Space Dude $29

Space Hulk 2 $44

Star Trek Genrtns W95 $41

Strife $44

Subterran W95 $29

Super Heroes $48

System Shock $15

Tek War $25

Terminator Fulr Shock $44

Terra Nova $42

Time Commando $45

Ultimate Doom $31

Ultimate Doom W95 $37

Virtua Cop $42

Warhamr 40K Drk Crus $39

Wilchaven 2 $26

Witchaven $25

XS $37

Circle

IBM ADVENTURE

7th Gst 2 1 1th Hr. $43
7th Guest $29

Abuse $37

Allen Alley $44

Alien Odyssey $34

Aliens $43

Alone in Dark 3 $44

AzraolsToar $39

Babylon 5 W95 $28

Bad Mojo W95 $48

Beavis Butihd Virt St S33
Black Diamond $44

Callahns Crslm Saloon $42
Chronicles Sword $38

Chronomaster $19

Circle of Blood $44

Crealion $52

Curse of Dragor $41

Cyberia 2 $48

Dame Was Loaded $34

Dark Earth S45

Dark Eye $39

DarkSoed 2 $45

Day of Tentacle $14

Death Gale $23

Death Trap Dungeon $42

Dinolopia $46

Down in the Dumps $39

Druid Daemons Mind $39

Dune $29

Ecstatica $35

Elk Moon Murder W95 $27

Entombed $29

Fighting Fanlasy $40

Flashback $35

Frankenstein $32

Full Throttle $45

G-Nome $43

Gabriel Knight 2 $55

Guardians ol Destiny $46

Harvester $46

Service ii68

IBM ADVENTURE

Heart of Darkness $55
I Have No Mouth $45
Indiana Jones Desktop $19
Journeyman Project 2 $46
Jumanji $42

KQ7:Princeless Bride $25
Kingdom O’Magic $39
Knights Chase $44

Lawnmower Man 2 $44

Legend ol Kyrandia 3 $25

Leisure Suit Larry 6 $29

Leisure Suit Larry 7 $48

Lighthouse $44

Lion $42

Lost Eden $39

Mission Critical $39

Mummy $42

Myst 2 $52

Mysl $48

Necrodrome W95 $45

Nemesis $42

Noir $43

Normality $48

Odyssoy $44

Olfensivo $39

Orion Conspiracy $36

Pandora Directive $54

Phantasmagoria $52

Police Oust 5 SWAT $50

Power Dolls $30

Prince Persia Collect $19

Promised Land $41

Psychic Detective $44

Return to Krondor $45

Reverence $43

Riddle Master Lu $35

Riftwar Legacy $23

Ripper $50

Rivers ol Dawn $41

SQ6 Spinal Frontier $45

Sato City $40

IBM ADVENTURE

Sea Legends

$36

Shadoan

$38

Shadows

$40

Shannara

$42

Shivers

$37

Shrinking Character

$45

Silverload

$34

Simon Sorcerer 2

$34

Spycraft W95

$47

Star Trk: 25th Annvrsry

$24

Star Trk: Star Fit AcdmyS46

Star Trek: Voyager

$48

Terror of Deep

$36

The Dig

$47

The Trial

$44

Threshold

$34

Time Gale

$42

Tommy

$34

Under Killing Moon

$19

Urban Decay

$39

Virtuoso

$39

Voyeur 2

$42

XenoPhage

$46

Zeddas:Serv Sheol

$39

Zeram Ull. Alien

$34

Zork:Nemesls

$53

SHIPPING

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'DESTINY' puls
players in charge,
controlling the
development of
mankind, from the
Stone Age to the
Space Age.
Players determine
the late of the uni-
verse, but unlike
any god game ever
developed, Destiny
allows players to
walk among sub-
jects in a 3-D
world. CD $46

‘WORLD CIRCUIT RACING: GRAND PRIX 2' Fend oil
challengers at Monaco or blast down the straightaway at
Mon 2 a! Real tracks, real teams, real cars, real spon-
sors all In breathtaking, lifelike graphics. CD $41

‘AD&D DEATH-
KEEP’ An evil
necromancer has
escaped from his ice
ptiscxi and is wrealc-
ing havoc on the
surrounding lands.
You must journey to
this bleak, irozen
wasteland and put
an end to his legn of
terror. 25 ominous
dungeons, 27 morv
sters and dozens of
mind boggling puz-
zles. WIN95 CD $39

‘THE LAST
BLITZKRIEG' will
put you in the
heat of Hitler's
last chance at vic-
tory in the West.
Detailed battles,
new land combat
system, opera-
tional artificial
intelligence, six
scenarios, replay
feature for reliving
battles network
and modem
play! CD $41

‘DUKE NUKEM

3D’Ass stompin'
aliens have
landed, and the
humans sud-
denly find them-
selves atop the
endangered
species list. The
odds are a mil-
lion to one, but
Duke Nukem
knows what's
got to be
done. Kick
alien butt! CD $48

IBM ARCADE J IBM BUNDLES H IBM ROLEPUYING H IBM SIMULATION H IBM SIMULATION H IBM SIMULATION

Aces Collection $48
Aces over Europe,

Pacific, Red Baron, A10
Air Combat Classics $19
Lucas Combat collecllon.
Battle Hawks 1942.

Secret Weapons
Luftwalle,

Their Finest Hour,

Atari 2600 AP W95 $25

Atari 2600 AP3 $25

Attack Slack $26

Bullfrog Pak $22

ID Anthology $64

Kings Quest AnthI $54
Legend of Kyrandia $25
Leisure St Larry Anth $47
Lost Adventures $29
Lost Treasures of Infcm $34
Lst Treasrs Infocorri 2 $25
Might & Magic Tril $19
Mystery Collection $19
Origin Pak $29

Police Quest Antholgy $48
Populous 2/Pwrmongr $15
PowerHils Battllch $19
Blech 182,

Mechwarrior

Space Quest Anthology $48
Star Control Coll $19
Star Trek Emissary $46
The Archives 1 $27

Indy 4, Sam & Max,

Day of the Tentacle,
Starwars Screen
Saver. Rebel Assault
Demo

Turning Point $29

Ult Game Col $29

Ultimate Family Games $24
Zool Bundle 1 8 2 $19

CGW796P?

ADD Three Worlds

$26

A.T,FW95

$48

Alien Legacy

$39

A10 Attack

$48

Anvil of Dawn

$34

AtOTank Killr 2

S48

Arena Deluxe

$47

ACS Marine Fighters

$25

Betrayal at Antara

$48

ACS Navy Fightrs GId

$48

Champions of Krynn

$19

ACS US Navy Fghlr

$47

Cobra Mission

$29

AH 64D Longbow W9S $51

Curse of Azuro Bonds

$15

Across Desert 1941

$48

CyberJudas

$36

Air Cmbt Pacfic 1942

$16

Dark Queen of Krynn

$19

Air Warrior 2

$40

Death Keep wgs

$39

Apache

$44

Diablo

$46

Archimedean Dynsly

$44

Dungeon Master 2

$38

Assault Rigs

$36

Elder Scrolls 2

$49

Battlecruiser 3000

$45

Eye of the Beholder 3

$15

Big Red Racing W95

$35

Knights Xentr PG13

$34

Black Knight

$46

Lands of Lore 2

$49

Chaos Control

$24

Lands of Lore

$25

Combat Air Patrol

$25

Lords of Midnight

$43

Command Acos W95

$47

Might 8 Magic 3

$19

Confirmed Kill

$42

Might 8 Magic 4

$19

CyberBykes

$31

Might 8 Magics

$19

Cyclemania

$19

Pools of Darkness

$19

DDay Qper Overlord

$25

Havnift 2 Stn Prop

$46

Dawn Patrol 2

$42

Riftwar Legacy

$23

Dawn Patrol

$17

Rims Ark Shadow Riva $46

Dawn Patrol Hd/Hd

$25

Shadow Caster

$15

Daytona USA

$40

StarTrek D S Nine

S41

Death Race

$34

Star Trek TNG Finl UntyS46

Demon Driver

$39

Stonekeep

$50

Descent 2 W95

$48

Terracide

$42

Descent Bundle

$26

Thunderscapo

$44

Destruction Derby

$38

Ultima 7 Series

$15

EarthSiege 2 W9S

$48

Ultima 8 Pagan

$18

F16 Fighing Falcon

$44

Ultima 9 Ascension

$52

FA 18 Hornet 2

$48

Ultima Trilogy 2

$19

FA 18 Hornet

554

Ultima Undrwid 1 8 2

$15

Falcon 3 SDt FghiTgr $12

Ultimate Famlasy

$19

Falcon 3 SD2 Mig 29

Unlimited Advtrs

$19

Falcon 3.0

$16

Wizardry Gold W95

$36

Falcon 4.0

$52

World of Xeen

$24

Falcon Gold

$52

Fast Atlack

$44

Micro Machines

$30

Fight Falc Baghdad

$64

Mig Alley

$46

Fighter Duel 2 W95

339

Nascar Racing

$47

Fighter Duel Pro

$34

Nascar Rcng Trk Pk

$24

Fleet Delndr Gold

$42

Need Spd Gold W95CD$51

Flight

$25

Net Racer

$44

Flight Sim ToolKit

$16

Privateer

$15

Flight Unlimited

$40

Rally

$39

Flight Unimtd W95

$48

Red Baron 2

349

Flying Corps

$44

Red Ghost

$39

Flying Nightmars 2

$42

Red Sector W95

$34

Flying Tigers

$42

Rengad 2 Jacb Star

$26

Fury Cubed W95

$39

Retribution

$19

Great Naval Battles 3

$41

SU-27 Flanker W95

$39

Great Naval Battles 4

$43

Sail 95

$43

Great Naval Battles 5

$44

Sail Sim 3 East Coast

$29

Grey Wolf

$19

Silent Hunter

$46

H.A.W.C.

535

Silent Service 2

$16

Hell Cats Over Pacif

$44

Slipstream 5000

$35

Hell Cats: Leyte Gulf

$24

Sub Battle Simulator

$12

Hind Helicopter W95

$46

TFX EF2000

$45

Indy Car Racing 2

$48

Terminal Velocity

$34

Indy Car Rcng 2 W95

$48

The Darkening

$54

Indy Car Hcng Comp

$25

Tie Fighter Coll

$47

Interactive SalIng

$45

Top Gun Fire at Will

$44

Iron Assault

$39

Trophy Bass

$46

Jot Fighters

$47

Urban Runner W95

$33

Jet Ski Rage

$39

Vette

$14

Korean Crisis

$48

Werewolf v Comanch

$48

Last Dynasty

548

Whiplash

$46

Lawn Mower Man

$29

Wing Commanders

$33

MS Flight Sim 5.1

$53

Wing Commandr 4 W95S54

Manic Karts

329

Wings of Glory

$18

Max Overkill Multi

348

Wipe Out

$38

Maximum Overkill Bdle $40

Wolf Pack

$15

MechWarrior2

$46

World ot Combat

$40

MechWarrior 2 Add On $26

Wrid Circ GP2 Mana9erS41

Mechwarrior 2 W95

$44

WrId Circ Grand Prix 2

$41

Mechwarrior 2 NetMech$15

WrId Circ Track Attck

342

MegaRace 2

$44

X-Car Exprmnll Ren

$44

MetalTech EarthSiege

$47

X-Wing Collector

$24

OlbWCHIPS&BTTS. INC

3D Ultra Pinball $40

Arcade America $25

Bug! $39

Crystal Caliburn $27

Double Switch $44

Earthworm Jim 1 82 $34

Earthworm Jim W95 $44

FX Fighter $44

Full Tilt PihbllW95 $24

Hyper 3D Pinball $34

Judge Dredd 536

Last Bounty Hunter $37

Lobo $34

Lode Runner Net $40

Loony Lbyrnth Pbll W95$29
MS Return of Arcade $29
Metal a Lace NH13 $27
Metal 8 Lace NR18UG $5
Mnly Pylhns Wsle Tme $36

Mortal Kombt3'W95 $46
Panzer Dragoon $39

Pinball Classics $31

Pinball Fantasy DIx $29
Pinball Illusions $29

Pinball Mania $29

Pinball World $35

Piltall W95 $43

Pro Pinball The Web $28
Psycho Pinball 525

RayMan $43

Rebel Assault 2 $47

Road Rash W95 $40

Tetris Gold $25

Timo Pockets $46

Toh Shin Den $44

Tri-Tryst W95 $24

Vector Man $39

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WWF Arcade $45

Worms $34

Zoop $26

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■KNIGHT’S
CHASE’ Most bat-
tls lines are drawn
over the distance
between two
hearts. You’ll need
keen deductive
skills & expert
swordsmanship to
bring your beloved
back with you to
the present.
Chivaliy & cunning
\vll be your guides
on this incredible
adventure. CD S44

tomb;

‘ENTOMBED’ will
pit you against an
ancient civiliza-
tion's technology,
their insidious
traps and a deep
underlying mys-
tery of monumen-
tal consequence.
Armed with only
the diary of a pre-
vious colleague,
you must solve
the mystery of
your failed prede-
cessors! CD S29

'THE COMPLETE
CARRIERS AT
WAR' provides a
total picture of car-
rier combat no
other simulation
has matched for
both excitement
and historical
accuracy. It con-
tains C.A.W. 1,
C.A.W. 2, the
Construction Kit,
the war scenarios
as well as new
scenarios. CD $42

You’ll find the latest and greatest gaming Info on the
web at Computer Games Oallae. Brought to you by the
knowledgeable folks at Computer Games Strategy Pies
and Interaetlve Entertalomeot, each day features a NEW
artlote covering all categories from Sims to Sports. Surf
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'JAGGED
ALLIANCE:
DEADLY
GAMES' The
award winning
Jagged Alliance
continues with
everything you
asked for and
more. New merce-
naries, multiplayer,
scenario/campaign
editor, new wea-
pons, new terrain
and a multitude of
missions. CD $39

IBM SPORTS

3-Decalhlon $42

APBABBall3 $37

Aaron vs Ruth W95 $44

AIIStarBsbllwgS $33
Blood Bowl $29

Brett Hull Hockey 95 $29

Collg Slam Bsktbll $44
FIFA Inti Socc 96 $40

Frank Thos Baseball $44
Front Pg Bsbll 96 $48

Front Pg FB Pro 96 $48

Gone Fishin' $25

Hardball 5 $40

Hooves Thunder W95 $35
Jack Nicklaus Muirlld $40
LinksCourses 1-15ea $19
Links LS $49

Links Pro 386 $19

Madden Football 97 $40

NBA Jam Tourn Ed. $44
NBA Live 96 $40

NCAA Champ Bsktbll $44
NFL Ouarterbk Club 96 $45
NFL Super Bowl $39
NHL Hockey 96 $44

NHL Power Play $44
Nick Faldos Crimp Golf $34
Old Time BsballW95 $48
P0A Bowling $32

PGA TGoll Lnks SpnishSl9
PGA Tour Golf 96 S38

ProGoll $42

TNN Outdr Bs Tourn 96S48
Terry Bradshaw FB $28
Title Fight Pro Boxng $38
Tony LaRussa BBS $33
Triple Play 97 $48

Unocesry Roughnes 96 $42
VR Baseball $44

VR GoK $44

World Series Baseball $39

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IBM STRATEGY

1 830 RRyRbbr Baron $34

Advancd Civilztn $39

Atterlile $47

Alexander W95 $39

Allegiance $34

Ancienl Empirs W95 $44

Ares $42

Ascendancy $44

Battle Bugs $19

Black Beard $34

Blood & Magic $46

Breach 3 $40

C-E.O. $43

Caesar 2 $47

Caesar $15

Capitalism $42

Celtic Tales $34

Chaos Overlords W95 $29
Citiz Bckwlr Attr $42

Civilizalion Network $47
Civilization $25

Civiliztn 2 WAV95 $42
Clash of Steel $19

Clockwerx $24

Colonization $25

Comm Cnq Cvert Oper $22
Comm Conquer 2 $52

Comm Cnquer Red AIrt $48
Command & Conquer $47
Command & Cnqr W95 $48
Complete UMS $39

Compit. Carriers War $42
ConquererA0 1086 $44

Conquest New World $46
Comorato Colonies $35
Crilics Chce Slrat $25
Deadline $34

Deadlock $47

Destiny $46

Detroit 315

Dune 2 $28

Dungeon Keeper W95

$51

Empire 2

$29

Empire 2 W95

$34

Empire Builder

$39

Empire DIx Mstr Ed

$22

Escalation

$29

Exploration

$40

Fantasy Empires

$42

Flight Commander 2

$39

Free Enterprise

$39

Front Lines

$39

Gender Wars

$46

Genghis Khan 2

$34

Gettysburg Turn Point

$15

Hammer of the Gods

$26

Heroes M&M W95

$34

Heroes Might & Magic

$34

Heroes of M & M 2 w95 $34

High Seas Trader

$25

History of World

$40

Incredible Mach2WCD$39

Into the Void

$44

Jaggd Alinc DdlyGm

$39

Jagged Alliance

$25

Jutland

$19

Kingmaker

$34

Konquest

$35

Koshan Conspiracy

$29

Lemmings

$25

Lemmings 3D

$40

Lost Admiral 2

$39

Machiavelli the Prince

$19

Marco Polo

$37

Master of Magic

$40

Master o( Orion

$25

Master of Orion 2

$42

Metal Lords

$34

Metal Marines

$48

Millenia Alird Destny

$31

Mission Force W95

$48

Navy Strike

$41

Circle

K: IBM STRATEGY

New Horizons $34

Northlands 539

Ocean Trader $44

OrionBurger $39

Outpost 2 $49

Outpost W95 $46

Pax Imperia 2 W95 $46

Perfect General $21

Pirates Gold $19

Pizza Tycoon $25

Power House $26

Qin Tomb Mid King $33
Railrd Tycoon 2 DIx. $24

Return Fire W95 $39

Rogarioan Agenda $39
Romance 3 Kingdoms 3$39
Romnee 3 Kingdms 4 $34
Second Conflict $34

Settlers 2 $39

Shadow of the Emperor $35
Shattered Nations $46
Sim Ant $40

Sim Earth $40

SimCity 2000 W95 $51

SimCity Class Graph S14
Simisle $35

SimTower $31

Space Bucks $44

Space Hulk $15

Space Marines $44

Spaceward Hoi 4 W95 $24
Star Base $42

Star Control 3 $47

Star Legions $10

Star Reach $36

SlarTrader $45

Starship Troopers $39
Syndicate Plus $15

Syndicate Wars W95 S4B
Theme Park $19

This Means War 324
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1 IBM STRATEGY I

Tiny Troops

$44

Total Mayhem

$42

Tranpsorl Tycoon DIx

$42

Transport Tycoon

$25

Ulmte Domain

$36

Unnatural Selection

$29

Vikings

S37

Warcraft 2 Add On

$29

Warcraft 2

$46

WarcraltOrc/Humns

$29

Warhmmr Shad Hrn Rat$43

Warlords 2

$19

Warlords 2 DIx

$41

Warlords 2 Scan. Ed.

$24

Warlords 3

$42

Wooden Ship Irn Mn

$39

Worlds of War

$48

X-Com Apocolypse

$42

X-Com Terror Irm Deep $39

X-Com UFO Defense

$24

$48

1 IBM TRADITIONAL 1

Arcade Action Kit

$29

Arcade CIscs W95

$29

Avatar Princ Conflict

$38

Avery Cardozas Casino $24

Avery Cardozas Poker

$24

Bridge DIx 2 Shrf

$32

Bridge Dlx2W95

$32

Casino Gambler Kit

$19

Celebrity Poker

$24

Chessmasler 4000 W95S34

Chessmstr 5000 W95

$35

Connections

$34

Dealers Chce Collect

$25

Dragon Dice

$44

Even More Inc Machine$19

Game Maker 3.0

$39

Game Wizard Pro

$32

IBM TRADITIONAL

Game Wizard Pro $32
Golden Nugget $29

Hoyles CIsc Crd Gm $26
Icebreaker $32

Incredible Mach 2 $39

Incredible Mach 3 WCDS36
Island Casino $29

Jeopardy $29

Klik & Play $34

Lodoss War 1-4oa $18

Magic Gatherng W9S $41
Masterpiece Mansion $39
Mnty Pythn & Hly GrI $50
Monopoly $40

Muppel Treasr Is1 $39
Origamo $14

Paparazzi $36

Pert Plyr Poker W95 $24

Pinball Arcade $28

Playboy Interviews $34
Pool Champion $33

SNL 20th Anniversary $1 6
Scrabble Deluxe $19
Shnghaii Grt Mom W95 $23
Shanghai! Gn Moments $26
Software Tootwrks Ref. $59
Solitaire Olx W95 $25

Solitaires Journey $16
TV Guide Crossword $1 9
TV Guide Crossword $19
Take Your Best Shot $20
Tang Chi W95 $25

Trivial Pursuit $25

USCF Chess $40

Universal Neverlock $19
Vegas Games 95 W95 $24
Virtual Chess $34

Virtual Pool $40

Virtual Snooker $35

Virtual Vegas 2 $24

You Dont Know Jack $30

CGWTsePs

CHIPS&BITS

INC.

POB 234 DEPT 10718 ROCHESTER, VT 05767
INT’L 802-767-3033 FAX 802-767-3382
Otders/Questions: cblsales@sover.net
Customer Service: cbiserv@saver.net

‘OVERNIGHT SUPPING la US $4 per onler. Mall to Canada, PR, HI, AX, APO, FPO S4 per order. WothMde alraiall $8 per Kern. Handling $2 per shipmenl. Hatfware ordeis niay require addHfanal shipping charges. Visa, MC and DIsctwer accepted.
Checks held 4 weeks. Money Ordeis under ^00 same as cash. COO Oafectlves replaced with same product. Most items shipped same day. Shipping limes may vary.

'ZORK NEMESIS'
Th 0 forces of the
Underground beck-
on you to uncover
themysteiy behind
the Nemesis curse.
Travel through 5
mind bending
worlds to discover
the ancient secret
of Aldiemy, that \m 1I
tree the trapped
souis from evil's
grip... Before you’re
imprisoned for eter-
nity. CDS53

•THRUSTMAS-
TER F-16 TQS'
You’ve got one
of the best flight
sims on the mar-
ket and the soft-
ware is more
sophisticated
than ihe best the
military had ]ust
a few years ago,
but you're still
using your keyboard to fiy it? Wrth the "TQS" youTI be ftying
that bird from an F-16 Cockp^ User conf^rable, thumb
trackball, fore and aft throttle movement, dogfight switch
and throttle tension adjustment wheel. S108

‘RENEGADE 2:
RETURN TO
JACOB’S STAR’

Sends you back to
this troubled star
system anal

new and even more
mysterious TOG
threat! More than
just spectacular
graphics, dnemalics
and sound effects,
youl fly 60 new mis-
sions and ^ an af
new Legal! class
TDGshIp. CD$26

‘AFTERUFE’ This
world building sim
lets you create the
hereafter in the
here and now.

unearthly sense of
humor, it all begins
in a god-knows-
where galaxy. As a
regional spiritual
(irector your task is
to develop two
prime planes of
unreal estate. Hea-
ven Shell! CDS47

‘BATTLE-
GROUND 3:
WATERLOO’
Under the com-
mand of

England's Duke
of Wellington
and Prussia’s
Field Marshall
B I u c h 6 r ,
Napoleon, could
not be Slopped 2
days before at the
tv/in battles of
Ligny and Qualre-
Bras. CD $42

1 IBM WAR GAMES I

1 IBM HINT BOOKS I

Aegis

S19

Filth Fleet

$39

Hoad Sumir Appomat 2 $29

Alien Legacy

$16

EarthSiege 2

$18

Pandora Directive

$16

Alrika Korps

S42

Filth Fit Seen Mod 1

S19

Robt E Lee CW Gen

$44

Aliens

$16

Elder Scrolls 2

$13

Panzer General

$16

Aide de Camp

S45

Fleet Med

$29

Shiloh

$15

Alone in the Dark 1,2

$16

Eye of the Beholder

$12

Perfect General 2

$16

Allied General W95

S43

Flight Cmmd 2 MS

$19

Sons of Liberty

$15

Alone in the Dark 3

$16

Eye of Ihe Beholders

$12

Phantasmagoria

$16

American Civil War

S45

Gary Grigsby Pac War

$19

Stalingrad

339

Anvil of Dawn

$14

FIFA InI'l Soccer 96

$18

Police Quest 5

$16

American Civil War V2

S24

Gary Grigsby War RussS19

Stalingrad Campaign

$29

Ascendancy

$16

Fade to Black

$18

Prisoner of Ice

$16

Anticlam

S15

Gene Wars

$44

Star General W95

$44

Ascendancy 2

$16

Fantasy General

$16

Privateer Ptaylester

$14

B-24

S15

German Raider Allanls

$26

Steel Panthers

$39

Bad Mojo

$16

Fantasy RP Gamer BibI $16

Quake Game Editor

$16

Banzai

Harpoon 2

$39

Steel Pnlhrs 2 W95

$44

Bioforge

S17

FinalDoom Unauth

$16

Quake Game Strtgy

$16

Battle Chickamauga

542

Harpoon 2 Deluxe

$29

Storm Across Europe

$12

Blood S Magic

$16

Full Throttle

$16

Quake Secrets

$11

Battle Leyte Gull

$24

Iron Cross

$28

TACOPS

$44

Caesar 2

$18

Gabriel Knight

$10

Ravenlolt 2 Slone Pro

$12

Battle Tank Kursk

$29

Iron Cross 2

$39

Task Force 1942

$16

Celtic Tales

$16

Gabriel Knight 2

$16

Ravenlolt Slrahd

$12

Battle Tnk Barbarossa

S29

Kampfgruppe

$15

The Great War

$19

Champions of Krynn

Gene Wars

$18

Realms Arkania

$18

Battle of Auslerlilz

$24

Kriegsmarine

$29

Third Reich

$39

Chronomaster

S16

Hand of Fate

$12

Rebel Assault Insider

$16

Battle of Bulge

$42

Kursk Campaign

S29

Tigers Prowl Camp 1

$23

Civilization 2

$16

Harpoon 2

$16

Red Baron 2

$18

Battleground Ardennes

$35

Last Blitzkrieg

$41

Tigers on Prowl Map

$23

Civilization

$16

Heart of Darkness

$16

Relm Zork Nemesis

$18

Battleground Gllysbrg

$42

Long Lance

$29

Tigers on the Prowl

$42

Civilization Network

$10

Heroes Might & Magic

$16

Riddle Master Lu

$16

Battleground Shiloh

$42

Main Bat Tnk Ctrl Gar

$29

Typhoon of Steel

$15

Clandestiny

$16

Hexen

$16

Rittwar Legacy

$16

Batlleground Waterloo

$42

Main Bat Tnk Mid East

$29

USS Ticonderoga

$34

Colonization

$16

Jagged Alliance

$18

Ripper Off. Strat Gd.

$16

Battles in Time

$35

Main Bat Tnk Nor GermS29

USS Ticonderoga W95 $33

Comm Conq Red Alert $13

Jet Fighters

$16

Romance 3 Kingdoms

4S16

Battles of Napoleon

$15

Malta Storm

$29

V Victory Bundle

$24

Comm Conquer UnauthS13

K06:Heir Today

$10

SQ6 Spinal Frontier

$16

Battleship Bismark

$26

Man of War

$36

V Victory Mkt Qrdn

$12

Command S Conquer

$16

KQ7:Princels Bride

$16

SU-27 Flanker

$11

Blue & the Grey

S41

Marianas Turkey Shoot

$24

V Victory Utah Bch

$12

Conquest New World

$16

Legend of Kyrandia 3

$16

Secret Monk Islnd2

Borodino Napol Invade

$24

Operation Crusader

$39

V Victory Velk Lki

$12

Crusader No Remorse

318

Lemmings Chronicles

312

SimCily 2000 Strat

$16

Charge Light Brigade

$16

Operation Overlord

$29

War College

$31

CyberMage

$18

Lords of Midnight

$16

SimTower

$16

CincPac Midway

$29

Over the Reich

$39

War in Falklands

$24

Cyberia 2

$16

Magic Carpel 1 & 2

$18

Star Control 3

$16

Civil War 1861-64

$38

PT0 2

$34

WrgmeCS2SD1-14ea $15

Cyberia

$16

Magic the Gathering

$16

Star Crusader

$16

Civil War Msl Plyr

$42

Pacific Storm Midway

$29

Wargame CS2 Upgrade $5

Dark Eye

$16

Master ol Magic

$16

Star Trail

$18

Civil War No Grl Glor

$16

Pacific Storm Solomon

$29

Wargame CS3 Rifles

$39

Dark Forces

$16

Master ol Orion

$16

Star Trek Judge Rites

312

Close Combat W95

$39

Panthers Shadows MapS23

Wargame Const Set 2

$39

Dark Sun

$12

Master of Orion 2

$16

StarTrek TNG

$16

Conflict Korea

$15

Panthers in Shadows

$42

Waterloo

Dark Sun 2

$12

MechWarrior 2

$16

Slonekeep

$16

Custers Last Command $32

Panzer General 2

$42

When Two Wrlds War

$15

Descent

$16

MechWarrior 2 Add On $1 1

Syndicate Wars

$18

D-Day Amer Invades

$39

Panzer General

539

Descent 2

$18

MetalTechiEarlhSiege

316

Terra Nova

$16

DDay Begin of End

$15

Panzerblitz

$42

■ HINT BOOKS ■

Diablo

$16

Might & Magic Compen $16

The Darkening

$18

Defend ihe Alamo

$19

Perfet Gen 2 w/Scenro

$30

Diseworid

$16

Mindwarp

$16

The Dig

$18

Dreadnoughts

$29

Point of Attack

$24

7th Guest 2 11th Hour

$16

Doom 2

$16

Mission Critical

$16

This Means War

$16

Dreadnoughts Bismark

Prelude to Jutland

$24

A.T.F. Guide

318

Doom Battlebook

$12

Mnty Pylhns Wstef Tme$12

Thunderscape

$16

Drumbeat

$42

Pure Wargame

$29

AH64D Longbow

$18

Dragon Lore

$16

Mori Komb 3 Power Ply

■ $9

Tie Fighter

$16

Fantasy Genrl W95

$43

Red Sky Morning

$29

Aces of the Deep

$16

Duke Nukem 3D Editor $13

Noctropolis

$12

Tie Fighter Collction

$16

Fields of Glory

$14

Return to Falklands

$24

Across the Rhine

$16

Dungeon Keeper

$18

Normality

$16

Treasure Sav Frontier

Fifth Eskadra

$29

Rising Sun

$24

Aircombal Pacific

$16

Dungeon Master 2

$16

Outpost 2

$18

Ultima 8

$16

^Chips & Bits, Inc. Online at

www.cdmag.com/chips.html

Call NOW to Order! Source 10718

800 - 699-4263

Ptiea/avallabillty may change. All sales final. Call let details. Each order will Include a 6 month subscription to Computer Barnes Strategy Plus magaaine, for whidi $8 at the ordd cost will be al

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•THE LOST
ADVENTURES'
8 classic games!
Thirteen major
Industry awards!
This set includes
Companions of
Xanth, Eric the
Unready, the
complete Spell-
casting series,
Frederik Pohl's
Gateway, Gate-
way 11; Home-
world and TIME-
QUEST. CDS29

•LIGHTHOUSE:
THE DARK
BEING' is a finely
crafted first person
adv- of discovery
and rescue in a
visually striking but
strangely unsettling
world. The sud-
den kidnaf^ing of
a professor and his
baby daughter
leads the player
into a rich tale in
a science fiction
fantasy. CD S48

‘DUNGEON KEEPER’ As an evil sorcerer who has coi-
leded a hoard of treasure over decades of friieveiy, you
now retreat into your dungeon to enjoy your unjust
rewards-Ahoslofmonstersawaityourbidding. CDS51

■NHL POWER-
PLAY 96’A new
standard of arti-
ficial intelli-
gence, high pro-
duction. broad-
cast quality
audio and
graphics and
maximum control
over game play.
The only game
with a full selec-
tion of offensive
and defensive
plays! CD $44

IBM HINT BOOKS

H ISM BUGDET

1 IBM BUDGET

1 PLAYSTATION 1

1 SATURN

Undr Kill Moon

$16

Day of Tentacle

$14

SNL20th Anniversary

$16

Sony PSX System

$319

Saturn Core Sys

$249

Warcraft 2 Oil. Gd.

$16

Detroit

$15

Sam & Max Hit the Rd

$16

MC Anig Strng WhI

$69

Agile Warrior Fit IX

$54

Warcraft Off. Secrets

Dogz W95

$19

Savage Warriors

$10

PSX Analog Joystick

$95

Alien Trilogy

$52

Warlords 2 DIx Off Gd

$16

Dragon Lore

$19

Scrabble Deluxe

$19

Virtual 10 TV

$399

Blades ot Rage

$54

Werewolf vs ComancheSt6

Drug Wars

$19

Sea Wolf

$15

7lh Gst2 11th Hour

$52

Blazing Dragons

$52

Wing Commander 3

$16

Duke Nukem 3D SW

$12

Seal Team

$15

Area 51

$54

Caslivnia Blooditng

$44

Wing Commander 4

$16

ESPN Sports Shorts

Separation Anxiety

$19

Casllevania Bldltng

$44

Descent

$52

Wings of Glory

$17

Everywhere USA Gde

Serf City

$10

Chronicles of Sword

$52

Destruction Derby

$54

Wizardry 6 Cosmic Frg

$12

F19

$14

Shakii Ihe Wolf

$12

Devil Summoner

$54

Die Hard Trilogy

$52

Wizardry 7 Crusaders

$18

Fields of Glory

$14

Sideline Sports

$19

Die Hard Trilogy

$52

Doom

$54

X-ComTerrorfrm Deep $16

Forlrss Dr Radiaki

$15

Sink or Swim

$16

Dream Team 96

$54

Dream Team 96

$54

X-Com UFO Defense

$16

GamePack2

Sport Accolade Grl 2

$12

Final Fantasy 4

$69

Eurit

$54

X-Wing Collectors

$16

Grey Wolf

$19

Stellar 7

812

Formi Wrld Crimp

$52

Fighting Vipers

$54

X-WIng Off Strat Gde

$16

Gunship 2000

$14

Strike Commander

SIS

Hexon

$54

Golden Axe: Duel

S39

Zork:Nemesis Unaulh.

$13

HardBallSColl

S14

Stunt Driver

Super Arcade Games
TV Guide Crossword

$14

Legacy of Kain

$52

Gun Grifln Iron Rain

$36

IBM BUDGET

Jordan in Flight

$13

$19

Madden Football 97

$56

ID4:lndepndnce Day
Kingdom O' Magic

$54

Jutland

Take Break Crossword

Magic Ihe Gathering

30 11

Kingdom Far Reach

$19

Take Ten

$19

Marvel Spr Heroes

$54

Legacy of Kain

$52

5th Dimension

$19

Land Design 30

$12

Take Your Best ShotCDS20

Mrtal Kmbal Trilogy

$59

Legend of Oasis

$62

Aegis

$19

Man Enough

$15

Tank

$14

NBA Jam Extreme

$54

MVP Baseball 96

$54

Appollo 13

$19

Menzoberranzan

$19

Toonworks

$12

Power Slave

$48

Mage Knght Rayerth

$52

Avalanche Intraclive

$14

Microcosm

$16

Top 100 Games V2

$12

Project Over Kill

$44

NBA Jam Extreme

$54

Bstifelsle 2200

S19

Morph Man

$19

Top 50 Games

$19

RayMan 2

$54

NHL Power Play 96

$52

CD Romix 2 Prime

Mystery Collection

$19

Top 50 Games

$19

Resident Evil

$52

Nood for Speed

$52

Card Collector

$12

NFL Yearbook

S12

US President

$19

Return to Zork

$46

Panzer Dragoon 2

$46

Castle Wollenslein

$19

Nerves of Steel

$16

Ultima Trivia

$16

Ridge Racer Rev.

$49

Power Slave

$48

Catz W95

$19

PGA Tour/Wrld Tennis

$19

Under Killing Moon

$19

SimCily 2000

$52

Primal Rage

$52

Chaos Continuum

$12

Pert Partnr Bridge

V Victory Mkt Grdn

$12

Slam & Jam

$44

Project Over Kill

$44

Chaos Engine

S12

Pirates Gold

$19

V Victory Utah Bch

512

Star Trk Generations

$54

Relurn Fire

$52

Chronomaster

$19

Populous 2/Pwmiongr

$15

V Victory Velk Lki

$12

Syndicate Wars

$52

Hoad Rash

$52

Comedy Collection

$19

PowerHits Battllch

$19

Vetle

S14

TNN Bass Tour 96

$54

Scorcher

$54

Crime Patrol

$19

Privateer

$15

Video Game Solut 2

$14

Teemo Super Bowl

$54

Slam & Jam

$44

Cycfemania

S19

Prof Zany Giveaways

Warcraft 2 Shrwr

$10

Tekken 2

$52

Teemo Super Bowl

$54

DDay Begin of End

$15

Prot Zanys Jokes

When Two Wrlds War

$15

The Show

$54

The Show

$54

DOA

Psychotron

$17

Wing Comm 1 Deluxe

$19

Tob Shin Den 2

$49

Three Dirty Dwarves

$44

Daring to Fly

Railroad Tycoon

$14

Wing Comm 2 Deluxe

$15

Tomb Raiders

$54

Ultimte Mrf Komb3

$56

Dark Sun

$10

Rebel Runner

$12

Wing Comm Academy

$15

Triple Play 97

$52

VIrtua Cop 2

$54

Dark Sun 2

$19

Renegade

$12

Wing Comm Armada

$15

War Gods

$54

Werewelt Apoc.

$59

Darklegions

$10

Rise of the Triad

$16

Wings of Glory

$18

Warhmer Fnisy Btle

$52

Wrld Sens Basebll 2

$54

Dawn Patrol

$17

Robotech Macross

$15

Wolf Hunt Be Hunted

$14

Werewoll Apoc.

$59

XMen Chidm of Atm

$52

Circle Reader Service tf68

GAME OFFER

Spend the specified emount
on any in stock software and
choose a free IBM game from
the corresponding list below.
Request must be made at
time Dt order.

SPEND $60
Battles of Destiny 3.5, ESPN
Sports Shorts CO, Precision
Approach 3.5, Airborne
Ranger 5.25, Gunship 5.25,
Conquered Kingdoms Seen.
Disk 3.5, Orlgamo 3.5, Bridge
Olympiad 3.5, UMS 2Planet
Editor 3.5, Falcon 3 MIG 29
ADD on 3.5, Star Trek TNG
Demo CO

SPEND $100

Allied Forces 3.5, Flight Sim
Toolkit 3.5, Return nf the
Phantom 3.5, Line in the Sand
5.25, Shadow Soreeror 3.5,
SpelICBSlIng 101 5.25,
Railroad Tycoon 3.5,
Elements 3.5, Casino
Gambler Kit 3.5

SPEND S160

Air Combat Pacific 1942 3.S,
Alone In Ihe Dark 3.5, Blood
Bowl CD, Simon the Sorcerer
3.5, Star Trek Judgment Riles
3.5, Ultima Underworld 2 3.S,
Warlords 2 3.5, Arcade
Action Xlts.s

SPEND $200

Falcon 3.0 3.5, Harpoon
Classic CD or Win, Jutland
CO, Under a Killing Moon CD.
Universal Neverlock

ScreM'IAt
Each Other At
The Top Of
Your Lungs
And Run Your
Best Buddy
Into The Wall
At Turn 4.

Sounds Like
Fun, Huh?

VVillUhenewACCURA 288
DSVD Modem, you and
a friend can get into some
reai gaming action, it's '
not just piaying the game,
it's taiking the game too
Our new voice gaming
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transmit data simultaneously

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LOYD CASE* TECHNOLOGY

Joystick Or
No Joy?

What To Do When Old Glory Just i

Get a

good joystick,
a dedicated
game card and
be prepared to
re-calibrate
early and

often. If

fiislcr iincl much higgcr. gr;iphics ha\ c
niclicallv ini])r(ivc(l , .sicrco soimd comes '
oiii of tlic PC. CPUs are lremai(loii.sly
faslerancl mice ha\ e made our li\ es
somewhat easier. U-i the joystick port is
essentiallv the same as it was nearly 15
years ago. I xjt s lake a look at (his arcane
and anachronistie piece of teehnologs’.

The first point is that the jo\s(iek
adapter does not generate an interrupt. If
\’on recall the lime S’on set u|) your sound
card, yon had lospeeilyan inicrrupl (usu-
ally IRQ S for Sound Plasler compati-
bles). An inlerriipl is .simply a way for a
particular desiee (a .soiukI card, for exam-
])le) to lap the CiPI ! on the .shoulder and
gel its allention. )o\slick.s don’t generate
inlerrupls. Instead, joystieks have a eoni-
mon I/O cukhvss (usual address 201).
Think of this address as a mailbox. The
game port puls information into the mail-
box and the computer picks it up. But
what information actually gels pul in?

I lie most obvious answer is the posi-

tion of the joystick along one axis or tiie
other. ' 1 he most straightfurw^ard wa\' to do
this is through an analog-to-digital con-
yerler {/\L^C}, that would translate the
analog po.sition of the jo)-,sliek to a digital
signal. Unfortunately, back when the PC
w'as invented ADC's were expensive, so
they resorted to a cheaper solution. In the
joystick itself are .sev eral patcnliometen:.
These are simplv' variable position resis-
tors, much like a knob that might set the
.speed on a fan or the heat level of an elec-
tric stov e. Most joysticks hav e two poten-
tiometers (called “poU ' for short), one for
each axis.

may be it’s not so lowly). |ov stick problems
with games are probably the third biggest
headache in games today, after .sound
card and graphics configurations, 'let, it's
difficult to find useful information on how
to make joysticks work. I el’s lake a close
look at the game ])nrl on your PC, cheek
out its operation and give some .sugges-
tions on how to fix a few of the problems
you might have,

'lire game port on your PC is essential-
ly the same devsign as the one that .shipped
with the original IBM PC wav back in
1982. Since then, hard disks have gotten

Software Labs has just shipped Power 2 Play 2,0 (P2P),
which lets you run your DOS titles directly from
Windows 3.1 or Windows 95,
rather than having to reboot.

P2P also ships with a CD-ROM
with shareware versions of peren-
nial favorites like Doom, Heretic,

Return of the Triad, and about 60
others, though the CD currently
lacks many newer titles,

P2P ran Quake from Windows 95
without a reboot, and with almost
no drop in frame rate, even at higher
screen sizes. Trying to run several
other newer DOS titles-FuGHT
Unlimited, EF2000, and Duke Nukem
3D-through P2P crashed the system,
and we had to hard reboot, P2P will scan your hard-

drive(s) for installed games, and add them to its list of

installed games, which you can then assign to five
hot buttons, where one click launches the
game.

Power 2 Play does offer convenience for
those who have grown weary of the C;\
prompt, and doesn’t appear to slow graphi-
cally-intensive titles, which is impressive.

But it won’t run all titles straight away, and
you’ll still need to massage more cantan-
kerous titles manually. Its Ul is fairly
straightforward, though obviously
designed for Windows 3.1 , lacking
Windows 95’s right-mouse-click
Properties-type features. A more Win95-
friendly Ul is in the works. At S34.95, it
will mean less clicks to run your DOS titles, but is more of a
nicety than a necessity.

JULY 1996

TECHNOLOGY

LOYD CASE

In (he game card is a timer circuit that
outputs a signal whose time duration
varies, depending upon tlie position of the
jov-stick. Hie game must contimiallv poll
the I/O address of the game card to get
the duration of the signal, and hence the
position of the joystick.

1 ct me repeat: the game software must
canliinialh’ poll the I/O address to get
accurate informaliori on the joystick posi-
tion, meaning that valuable CPI 1 eycics
are being burned to read information on
your joystick’s position. In fact, as much as
15 percent of your computer’s CPLl may
be eaten up polling the joystick.

IF YOU CAN'T STAND THE HEAT...

There’s another mb. The duration of

more Ilian a few jo\ stick ports in sound
cards, undergo a |>heuomeuon called
iheniial drift. As the computer w arms up,
the josstick signals' durations actuallv
change, and this deviation is the main
.source of joystick drilt. W ith realh' cheap
game cards, \'ou coirstantiy have to re-cal-
ibnite your joystick. ( )f course, modern
I ’ci itiiii 1 1 sysici ns witi i lots of uiemoiy and
sophisticated graphics cards generate
even more heat, causing more thermal
drill and, , . well, you get the picture.
Another source of cliff icullv are cheap joy-
sticks, whose ])otsand springs tend to get
thrown out of whack after rclativeh’ limit-
ed ii,se.

Okay, .so ynu’ve dropped over a hun-
dred bucks on a premium joystick with a

the joystick po.sition signal changes w hen
the speed of the computer changes. This
is what the infamous joystick calibration
routines are actuallv doing; calibrating the
game card and jovstick to the speed of the
computer. But wait, it gets worse. i\ lost
cheap game caals. and

ga/illion buttons. . . or mavbe onlv four
buttons, such as the Cl 1 Mightstick Pro or
T'Hiti!s'IM \S'n :t< PCS, 'ibu pick up a game
that osteusibK .sup])orts one of these
acKanced controllers, only lo find that vou
have a verv' expensive, two-bntton jo\ -
stick-the other buttons, cool add-ons and

Logitech sfiems to have scored a direct hit with
id's John Romero, who endorsed the new
Warrior as the ideal controller for Doom. The
Warrior is the latest addition to Logitech’s family
of joysticks which include the WingMan and
WingMan Extreme.

What makes the Warrior different is
what Logitech has
dubbed the

SpinControl. a horizon-
tal knob located to the
left of the joystick.

Using the SpinControl,
players can make faster
turns and quickly spin a
full 360°, a much-needed
capability for surviving frag-
fests. There are plans to
map Quake's “free took” fea-
ture into Warrior’s repertoire of maneuvers, but
these won’t be complete until Quake ships.

The Warrior connects to a serial port, so if
you’ve got a mouse in your first serial port and a
modem in your second, you’ll need to unplug

one of them to use the SpinControl. You'll also
have to unload any DOS mouse driver you’ve got
loaded, and load Warrior’s driver. Future plans
include a Plug-and-Play serial port card for
Warrior, and a version that connects via Intel’s
upcoming Universal Serial Bus (USB).

Is Warrior worth the fuss? We recently received
a shipping version, so we’ll test it and let you
know what we find. The
Warrior lists for S99. For
more information, contact
Logitech at (800) 231-
7717. Dave Salvator
“Green PCs"— If you have
an energy-efficient PC
that automatically powers
down when, not in use.
you might deactivate
the green features
while playing joystick-
enabled games. Since joystick
calibration is dependent on the speed of the CPU,
the joystick will go completely out of whack when
the system shuts down, and will not return to
exactly the same calibration when your computer
comes alive again. This is particularly true if you
have one of those speed-compensated game cards.

ihrolllc w lic'cls cloii’l .scan lo work. It’s
likdy tbiil you Ikivc an older, imihifuiic'-
iion I/O card tliat onlv,sii])porl.s a .single
jovstick. Reconned yonr joystick to either
a sound card or a dedicated joystick card.

Tlicri there are the speed-compensated
ganieeaRls. Thriistiiiasler, CT I Products
and Advanced (>ra\i,sall offer cards that
ostciisihly eonipeiisale for the speed ol the
Cl’l I. Wliat they really do is adjnsl llie
diiralioii of the joysliek signal, and hav e
been a boon for .sonic older.sollware whose
joystick roiiiiiies have trouble mnningon
vciy fast coni|)uters. 'I lie real benefit of
tiiesc cards is liie use of higher cinalilycom-
ponciiLs. which niininii/es theniial drift.

Aiotlier culprit of jov stick [irohlenis is
poor game design (snrpiise, snriirise), lAr
example, some calibration routines ask
you lo ])re.ss a button vvlien the jovstick is
in tlic upper-left orlower-riglif position.
Then they read the values and assume
they’re coitccT. But w hat if von haven’t
c|nite gotten the stick jaiiiined against the
comer when you pres.s a bnlloiP Tlie
result is instant joystick drift. Some games
assume that computers will never get
faster, They use smallish miiiibers {.sav, 8-
bil integers) loeoiinl the joystick pulses.
When the user doubles or triples the com-
puter .s])eed (let’s saylhey move from a
486/33 to a Pentium 100), suddenly the
joystick doesn’t work rigi it. ' I here have
been a number of game paid les i,s,sued
for older games to solve this problem.

Are jovstick ])roblems going lo be with
us forcver?'lhe art of [irograiniiiiiig the
gameport is arcane and not well uiicler-
stood, even among many game devdo])-
ers. /\s games move to Windows 93. game
devdopers vv ill begin using standard wajs
of accessing the game porl. Tlic Windows
93 Games Software nevdopmcnl Kit will
even liave a .set of tools called Dircctinpul
that lets manufacturers of .sophisticated
controllers add drivers to Windows 95 tiial
allow any Direclliijiul-enahied game lo
use their controllers.

for today, however, we still have lo liv'c
within the limits of llie old IBM game
port teclinologv. The best .solution today is
to get a good joystick, a dedicated game
card and be prepared lo re-eaiibrate early
and often. S

JULY 1996

I got an offer to run a satellite sales office.
Aspire. To Do More.

But there was a catch — a 3,000 mile catch.

I couldn’t bear the thought of leaving home.'

Fortunately, my company liked the idea of

telecommuting. And that’s
when I got my Acer® Aspire™

2550 Minitower. It takes

me from home to headquarters in seconds. It

has online software and a powerful fax modem
A few more things

that lets me e-mail my executive summaries to
I can Aspire to do:

corporate on time. Plus, a large hard drive, a
Order dinner from a local restaurant.

high-speed CD-ROM drive and stereo speakers
Negotiate contracts online.

that really jazz up my multimedia presentations.
Manage my company stock options.

And because my Aspire 2550 Minitower has an
Keep up with my business journals.

Intel* Pentium" processor, I have just as much
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computing power as my colleagues at the office.
And cruise the Internet.

Now I can have my latte at work just the way

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% seconds.

TECHNOLOGY

REVIEW • FALCON NORTHWEST P 166 MACH V

The Falcon Flies

If You’ve Got The Money, The Mach 1 / Will Deliver The Goods

by Dave Salvator

e're alwiiv’s eager lo
f lest I'lileon
ii.icliines, heeaiise
Ihey’re fasl and
lliey're designed for
gaming. Tlie com-
pany's Mach V
Penliiim BBlook
top iionors in our
Ultimate Claming
.Machine roundup in )aniiar\’, I3ui the
faste.st just got faster: now tlie Mach V is a
Pentium Ifihwith all the trinunings, and
for those with a serious speed jones (and
dec|i ]X)ckets), this snay he just the fix.

Price: $4,888
Manufacturer; Falcon
Northwest Computer
Systems
Coos Bay, OR
(541) 269-0775
(800) 258-6778
www.falcon.com

l■'irsi. the launch- list o’ himdlcd good-
ies: 16 MB of KDO RAM. 2% KB syn-
chronous burst 1 2 cache, a 2,1 CB RIDI'i
hard-dri\ e, an STB graphics board l)a,sed
on SvsTfio6-IV with 2MB ofIsIX)
ORAM, Sound Blaster 16 with a Roland
SCD-IO Ceiierai MIDI daughlerboard,
Princeton (Iraphics Ultra 17 inoiiitor,
Acoustic Research 622 .speakers
(satellite/suhwoofer), and Microsoft
Natural kevboard. There’s also a (II I high-
speed game card, I‘’-I6 CombatStick, and
Pro Throttle. The rig ships with Windows
9s pre-installed, and out of tlie box, it’s
good to go. Rebooting hoin Windows 95
into MS-DOS mode. I'iilcoi) sets up the
DOSS'IAR'PBAT file to load real-mode
drivers for the Cl ! game card, Sound
Blaster, and mou.se.

BURN BABY BURN...

I he good news is that all this heavy-
duty harcKvarc comes together to deliver
very good DOS performance. The Mach

PtrforiiioiiK [Qinpnrlsoii: Folcoii vs. Ztpftyr^

Falcon Mach V

Zephyr Onyx

How Falcon Rates

CPUmarkie

328

305

8% faster

CPUmark32

Graohics WinMark 96

331

300

10% faster

; (80Dx600x65K}

22.7

9% slower

Disk WinMark 96

1090

657

66% faster

jcb-ROM WinMark 96

459

609

25% slower

$4,888

$4,080

20% more

V cruised smoothly through h’l .l( :i ft'
UNi,iMrii';n (ninning at 64().x48() with all
rendering features at max), and DtiKl ',
NukI'A! 3D ri liming at cS(K)x6(}()\TiSA
mode using I IniVBK 5.2 (recently
renamed Disjrlay ["doctor, .see related arti-
cle in this month’s ■■RRAD.MR"). lAen in
Qtl.AKl'.-whose default fniinesi/eis
32()x2(l()-the Mach Vcielisered 30 franie.s
])er second running OliAKIt's I IniVBI'’,-
a.s.sisted VRSAsid.mode 20 (512 x 384)
displa\-mode. In Windows 95,

Direct Draw -based Mi ;c;iiW{\iu{|{)r 2 also
ransinnothh-.

'Ilie Mach WinBench iiunibers
were also ver\- good overall. Compared to
the/ephu Oin-x 166 Mil/ system we
reviewed in April, the .Mach Vs CPU per-
fonuance was about nine percent faster
oserall for 16-bit and 32-bit code, and disk
|)erformance was much better, coming in
about 66 percent faster than the On\x
'lire two machines had comparable grajrh-
ics pcrfonnance, and the onlv place the
Mach V didn’t c|uite deliver w'as in its 8x
CD-ROM’s ])erlormance, which came in
about 25 percent slower oserall than the
On>^- /\lso, its CPU asage during CD-
ROM file I/O, at 54 percent, w'as 12 per-
cent higher than the On)x. But looking at
sequential read pcrfomiance-the kind of
file 1/(9 games usually use when loading a
new' scene or level-the Mach Vconsis-
tently delivered 8x (1,2 MB/sec) llirongh-
piit. 'll) address tlie ,s))otty CD-R( )M per-
fornianee, [‘aicon plans lo ii.se'lbsliiba’s 6x
CD-ROM clrh'c, which Ihcysay will deliv-
er better overall performance, as well as
.solid sequential read throughput.

'Ihe.Mach V’sCI 1 josstick/throttle .syv
teiii made for smooth nasigation through
all the flight sims we ran, and the units are
easil)- re-calibnited using C! I’s utilities.

'1 he Pro’l lirottle .software comes with
config files for many flight sim tille.s. and
als{> action titles like l^UKt': NUKL\i. and
Qi i.AKi-;.

A convenient aspect of the Mach V
series is that Milcon will build to order. If,
for e.xample. you want lo .swap out fauev
speakers and the MIDI daughterboard for
more RAM. thes’ll do it. And w hile the rig
we reviewed has all the bells and whistles,
I'alcon can build a “base" Mach V,s\-stcm
for about .83,501).

The 166 Ml 1/ Mach Vcontiniies
halcons uncom[)romising commitinent to
making screaming game rigs, but be ])re-
pared lo pony up. /\t S4.888 as re\icwed,
the Mach V is not for the faint of ca.sh.

But if you’ve got the bucks, they’ve got the
goods. Maybe it’s time to finally take a
hammer lo \e olde pigg\' banke, . . %

APPEAL: Hard-core action and
flight sim aficionados looking for
ferocious overall performance
PROS: A solidly fast system all
around with top-notch peripherals,
ready to rock out of the box. Handy
MS-DOS reboot mode from Win 95.
CONS: Significantly more expensive
than comparable
machines from
major manufactur-
ers; somewhat
spotty CD-ROM
performance as
tested.

JULY 1996

PAUL SCHUYTEHA • GAME DESIGN

UAKI'^ h;is been
I lieralcicd as the
"next great
thing," yet llie
s(jft\s'arc
engine which
makes the
world of
QuAKr; possi-
1 ble is anything
but revolnlionar)'. Its the result of a long,
hard evolutionary process b\’ [rrograni-
mers John Camiaek and Michael Abrash
to enable real-time 3D graphics on home
computers. 'Mic goal was lofty: a true 5D
world \rilh sL\ degrees of freedom, 31.D
graphics with dsnamic lighting effects, 3D
pla\ ers, monsters and objects, and a mini-
mum frame rateuf lf)-15 frames per sec-
ond. ['hjin the.se objectives, one of the
most complex and sophis-
ticated 5D engines ever to
bog down a Pentium
began to esoK'e,

MOW'D THEY DO THAT?

Imagine creating a level
in any given 3D design
|)rogram, '^bu apply stone
textures to w'alls, fix vertical
beams, install arched
doorvv'aj's, etc. Y(ju place a
few lurking demons here
and there. alongvvith
weapons and ammo
boxes. Add some lighting,
and vou’re ready to go.

T he trick is converting
that data into a vv odd

THE SWORD AND THE
SORCERER After making a
killing with Doom, id’s John
Carmack is out to beard
the programming dragon
of 3D space.

where you can move at high s[3ccds, with
a consistent frame rate dc.spite v-arying
lev'cls ofgra|)hic coniplexit)', as you battle
mtrnsters and tiy' to survive. Wth the 3D
rendering program 3D Studio, you could
create a nice animation of this world, but
it vvcruld lake hours to render, and it would
be totally non-interactive. 1 low' do )ou
make this world come alive, and fit the
parameters outlined above? \V!iere do
V'ou even start?

I f you're John Cannack, you start with
what von know; the Binaiy Space
Partition (13SP)-driv cn engine of DOON!.

“1 actually had Doo.\l up and ninning
before 1 knew' alraut BSP trees.” savs
Cannack. "1 learned about tiiem when 1
was doing \V()i,n-:NS'iT;iN for the Super
Nintendo, because I had to make it go a
lot faster.”

T aking the knowledge
gained in that [rroject and
rethinking the world in
three-dimen-sion.s, John
began the arduous task of
creating tlie QuAKt;
engine. iN'Ieanwhile, he
reemited one of
Miero.soft's mn.sf-rcspect-
cd i^rogrammers, Michael
Abrash, and together they
would strain for nearly 14
montlis, inventing a
hvhrid a))))roach never
before allempfcd.

The first problem for all
first-person engines is
how to distill the 3D data
created bv the level

designer into a localized scene, for any
given frame of gameplay, that means
focusing the engine's attention on just the
immediate parts of the w'orld.

"'ihere’s two stages," Cannack sa)’s.
■'Ihe detcmiining what’s visible and then
the actual drawing of the pixeLs.”

That's vv'here a BSP tree conies in. A
BSP tree Ls a software tool to order all of
the sectors of a virtual world (think of a
sector as an area of floor, a column, etc.).
Qi.f.-\KK uses a number of BSP trees. 'Ivvo
arc used for the game world, to help
detennine line of .sight and to allow the
player to traverse the world. In addition,
each movable object has its own 13SP tree
(objects like ammo boxes, but not animat-
ed beasties).

“It’s esoteric, technical stuff," Carmack
admits. “A lot of people said that vve
couldn’t use BSPs for a general 3D
engine, but we think they’re wTong.”

In Doom, a single BSP tree was the
kc)' to drawing each and every frame, but
things get far more complicated when
you to.ss in the third dimension. I low do
you cull out the unneeded sectors during
gameplay? With levels av'craging around
10.000 sectors, having to consider extra
sectors becomes v'en' inefficient, even
with the help of a BSP tree. 'Ihat problem
occupied Cannack for several months.

^§1 I totally
believe that
3D is noth-
ing but a
mess of
cheats.

— id programmer
Michael Abrash

JULY 1996

Monstrous
ManDAL" database-
and it’s

customizable, too!

Players

Handbook

HuHSEOH MaSTER'

Guide

Tome of Magic
Arms and
Equipment Guide

And more!

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The Advanced Ddngedns &
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Character
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a complete
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Encounter generator-

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Treasure generator — any

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Jump on the ADSD
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The demo is also available via the internet at
ftD.mDan.eom/Gamina/ADND/CD-ROIVl-rifimo

PAUL SCHUYTEHA

i)iicl then during one slow; catharlic week-
end. he solved it.

Using the w'orld BSP data, Camiack
des'ised a routine that pre-calailatecl tlie
Potenfia^H' Visible Set (lA^S) of scclors. 'lo
calculate a lA^, imagine standing in a
spot at the center of a room. Now' just fig-
ure out what sectors are \isib!e from any
\iewing angle, for a closed room, this isn't
too hard, since the floor might just be a
single .sector, and a wall another sector,
and so on.

'Ilic PC onl\’ gets into complicated cal-
culations when you run acro.ss a portal (a
doorwa); for e.'ami^lc), which is a non-
poK'gon, and it is the onl\' way to see out
into other areas, 'llirough portals, you
simplv calculate what sectors migiit be
visible until s our line of sight nins out.
'lliis lA'S information is calculated for
each sector in a level.

‘■^bu onlv reallv has c to do this []3re-cal-
ciilating] once for a level." .said /Xbrash, “nr
once each time you reallv w ant to sec it per-
fectlv. for development, you just don't do

this at ail; you mn around
and it's kind of .slow,"

UP AND RUNNING

Once the game is under-
way, llic QU/\K1'; engine
takes in the 1A''S infomia-
tion for the sector that the
player is ill and the direc-
tion the5'’re looking. Next
the engine proccs.ses that
data to delennine the edges
of llie visible [johgous,
wliieli arc then converted
into ".spaiis"— pro[x.'rly
clip[)cd hori/.onfal pieces of
the polygons— that the player will see,

“I'rame b\- frame," Abra.sli savs, "I go
llimugli the |X)lentialK- visible set and gen-
erate the edges, and in the next pass, I go
through the edges and generate the spans,"

As this is going on. the .surfaces of the
])olygons arc built in a memorv- cache.
Ihcsc "meta-tcxturc-s" arc a comhinalion
of the texture maps which the level design-

ers chose to a]5plv' to a par-
ticular .sector. plus the liglil-
ing infonnation, gleaned
from a .separate, pre-c-alcii-
laled lighting map.

As the frame is being
built, infonnation about
anv' objects, .such as amnio
boxe.s, is then merged into
the above data. All of this
infonnation is “/sorted"
(.sorted by the distance from
the viewer). Next, as the
engine constnicts the final
frame data, the monsters
and other jjlavcrs are drawn
in, using a tcchnic|uc know as /.-buffering, a
rather "old-school" si") tcchniijue of com-
paring the / distance of each pixel on the
object bcfoic it is drawn; if it’s closer to v ou.
then draw it, otherwise ignore it.

I iislly, any .sprite's are added to the mix.
Ql uses onlv a few sprites, most

notahiv for the flames flickering in the wall-
mounted braziers.

MICROSOFT CAN KISS
MIKE ABRASH... good
bye. The programming tal-
ent left Microsoft to help
id build Quake.

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PAUL SCHUYTEHA

Quake’s level design and gamepl^ will be the deciding
factor in whether gamers go nuts over it, but id is truly a
technology-driven company, and at the heart of it all is
the programming savant John Carmack.

"This is what I do," says the programmer who is fun-
damentally responsible for the Doom phenomena.
"Programming reaily is the defining part of my life.
Ferraris and girlfriends and stuff like that— okay, that’s
there, they mean something, but i am a programmer; I
would do it for free. It’s just sheer luck that something
that motivates me so much can also make us rich."

In early 1995, after a long “courtship." Carmack lured
Michael Abrash away from Microsoft.

“To be honest, a lot of the other companies did a big,
scared double-take when they heard that I convinced

Michael to come here,” Carmack says. “He’s a
world-dass talent." Abrash had been a noted author
and speaker on esoteric PC programming. Before
coming to id, he was also used to being the leader
instead of the foitower, and he had to make peace
with that before signing onto the Quake project.

"Without question, John is the leader here,"
says Abrash. “He’s had five years more experience
at 3D stuff than I did, he’s better at this stuff than I
am, and he works more than I do, so, it’s pretty
clear that if I wanted to get into any pissing match-
es, it'd be stupid.”

Modesty aside, Abrash offered these parting
words on the merit of Quake: “I think, unequivocally,
Quake is the best 3D technology that I’ve ever seen."

Innally, this frame of display infonnatioii
consinicled in sv’steni memory Ls sent to
your wdeo card’s clisjjlay meiiiory, to
appear on tlie screen as a compelling, 3D
gotliic w'orld. And tlicn tlic process begins
all over again for the next frame.

BUT WHY?

.Ml of Ihese complex g) rations are
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rate. Sure, )'ou could create a high-res
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L’vcn more importantly, the speed
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vou won’t even notice. %

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SCORPIA* ADV£NTUR£/RPG

Ripper is
a murder
mystery set
some years
ahead of the
present, in a
time when
most every-
one has a

computer. 99

Murder
Most Foul

Put Down That Knife-Scorpia Melts The ICE To
Help You Locate The Ripper

be, the first l\\’o acts are
alw avs exactl)' the same.
Even imicli ofActlilwill
remain the same; hpical-
K; the differences are in
certain conversations
and visual evidence tlwi
occur insome situations
but not in otliers. It is
therefore Act III to which
yon must pay the closest
attention, for only here is
the evidence that pin-
points the Kippers identi-
h’.ancljou don’t want to
miss it or be led astray.

'Ilie hints and tips that follow are for a
pu/yle level of moderate (the default) and
a cyberspace combat lev'cl of easy. In
.some case.s, a pn/y.le .solution may be dif-
ferent if you have a different lev el set.
Combat doesn’t varv; except that dispos-
ing of the ICE becomes harder as tlie dif-
ficulty level rLses. Since the game
Piologue is covered nicely in the back of
the manual. I am skipping it allogctlicr
here.

Act l-jake begins at the police station.

I le’ll want to talk to eveiyonc here (tliree
people, in fact), and snoop around
Magnotta’s desk, as well. It's a jiity that
Catherine’s WAC (palm-top, all-purj)o.se

!► Well, the game that started the
Icurrent multimedia craze Is final-
ly siring offspring; Myst II is ten-
tatively planned for this fall; but
if the ambitious project slides
into winter, well...

► Rumors also abound that
Broderbund is hard at work on a
sequel to the popular courtroom
game In the First Degree. Like
any good prosecuting attorney,
however, the company isn’t
revealing its opening arguments
as yet.

► Seems that Harlan Ellison was-
n’t content to have an excellent
game, I Have No Mouth & I Must
Scream based on his award-win-
ning short story; he filed suit for
“unpaid royalties" from
Cyberdreams, the game’s distrib-
utor. The irony is that with the
way the retail chain works.
Cyberdreams probably hadn’t
turned a profit on the game at
the time the lawsuit was filed
(we’re not talking sales of
Warcrar II here, folks).

0 ihc days grow
longer, the
weatber milder,
Ihc games
fewer, and bred
cv'crgnimpicr.

1 le’s alvvay,s
that wav'
around this
timeofibe

year, e,specially once the docks are
moved ahead. ‘■Dayligbl'lliieving'l'ime’’
he calls it. and considers it a monstrous
crime. Perhaps, but there are v et more
monstrous crimes to be considered.
Murder, for instance, and inurder in a
most unpleasant way...

Ril'i'iut is a murder mv-sterv' sel .some
vears ahead of the present, in a lime \v hen
most evenone has a compiiler and
■'decks in" menlallv- lo the net. Our hero,
jake Quinlan, brash-mannered reporter
for a great cvbernetic tabloid, is on the
trail of a .serial killer known only as-you
guessed it-the "Kipper." With a little luck,
and some help from yon, jake might man-

age lo crack the case without becoming a
victim himself.

"THE BLOODY PLAY
HAS FOUR ACTS"

' 1 he first two acts of l^lTi^R set things
up, so to speak; the third act detcmiines
the identitv of the Ihpper. and .Act 1\' is

ihc showdown between jake and the
Ripper in a virtual Whitechapel.
Regardless of who the Ri])|)er turns out to

JULY

ADVENTURC/RP6

SCORPIA

a ijonvn or color, and Ihev don’t
mo\ c. Bad gin’s arc skeletal, hold
weapons, and have red eyes. Shoot each
had guy as many times as yon can. After
yon win. yon can talk to Mileon in person,
ending the act.

Act ll-’lliescene begins at the hospi-
tal, where you have to ride shotgun while
h'alcon decks into Catherine’s mind. Do
(he best you can here; I’aleon will join in
eventually to wipe the ICi'i when it gets
heavy, but yon must do your part.

1 lowevcT. von can't talk to Catherine vet.
Instead, come back here from lime to
time during the Act to tell her what you’ve
learned.

In the meanwhile, .snooj) around the
])olicc station. Catherine’s journal was
encr\pted by Magnotta, and \ ou ma_v find
something helpful in that regard. I lalf
comes up right away; the rest of the jour-
nal will decrypt over time during this Act.

'I he legible .section liolds the kev to the
book vault at the apartment. I’ll justsav
that tire lock is a numeric one; that should
be enough to get you started. ’ I hen )'on
obtain the mj-steiy' calculation. Wdrcrc
does one usually do ealculation.s?')()u
don’t know?'] hat’s news to me (grin). Bv
the way, that “X2” is "X squared".

Since vou’ve read the journal, vou
know what to do with the two bugs (trans-
missions from these will come in horn
lime to lime during Act 1 1 1; there won't be
an\' during this act). Kntcr Burton’s office
much the same wa\’ \ on got into the

computer) isn’t available, but mavbe we’ll
eateh up with it later, like in Act III.

Speaking of Calherine, now is a good
time lo cheek her condition at the hospital.
Not that Dr. Burton is all that cooperative,
hut perhaps she has her reasons. I'lirley in
the Morgue has some intere.sling things to
.sav. though; happilv, vou won’t have to
look at the bodies withoul their sheets (one
of the better features of this game is that it
docsii’l pander to tra,shy sensittionalisin.)

I el’s hit the newsroom and .see if
Catherine left an\lbinglhat might help.
Sure eitoiigb, ibcre’s an ob,scute-.souriding
note on Jake’s de,sk. Wliilc you’re at it,
check her desk, too. 'Ihere are probably
some leads in that Rolodex file.

You w'anna play with the ervstals in licr
apartment, right? Wdiv nut. it’s important,
after all (heli). If only you knew what to do
w ith ibem. Well, there’s an astrologv chart
on the wall, and a birthday card sitting
there. I bet tlicj'’re all connected, some-
how. And when it’s figured oirt, what do
you get? A word. W'liat word? 1^‘t’s [)a.ss on
that for the moment, and go chat with
Camhit Nelson at the Cafe Duchamp,

You’ll pirjbably want to drop in on
Soap Bcally, too,at)d don’t over look the
rnaga/inc rack on \our wa\’ out. 'Ihcn
wc get to (he tough stuff, at the Wofford
cottage. 'I here are three pn/zles to solve
here, each one providing a \ aeuirm tube
yoir need.(\ha/r/i)! /!//x',s’-in this futtiri,s-
ficage? Don’t think too much, jirst grab
’em and mov e on.)

I TOLD YOU ONCE, PUNK You’re going to get roughed up by Magnotta (be
thankful rea/VR isn’t here yet), regardless of what you do. So, be sure to check
out the corrupt detective’s apartment and pilfer his desk at the police station.

'lire maze puzzle can be annoying; the
gates have to be set twice (in different pat-
terns) to get the ball to the bollom. Watch
this carefnilv'. 'Ihe clocks arc liieky; they
all have lo be .set to the .same lime, .sort of.
Wlial time? Mavbe )'on’ll see another
clock elsewhere, and keep that time zone
chart ill mind. M for the coins pn/ale,
take a real good look at that jilaqrie on the
W'ay up.

'[here’s a deck port rtl Wofford’s, so let’s
use it lo visit \ irlnal realil}’ and a few wells.
Catherine’s has ICE to defeat. It’s vnlner-
ahle at the bottom, so aim for the jets and
blast away. Use your shield if it gets too
clo,se.'llie journal, ala,s, is cnerv'|Med, and
you won’t obtain the kev word until Act If.

1 [ere we arc at the librarv, and a naslv
little puzzle. I ook elo.sely at
winil’s inside the brackets. With
a little thought )on .should be
able to see clearly — very clear-
K — withoul anv' help at all.
Unfortunately, von ean'l do an\-
thiiig with the book except haul
it around with you.

Round about now, you
should be able lo v isit Joey
I'alconctfi (called variously in
llie game "Joev.” ■'I'alconctti,”
"['iiieon,” "kaleon I'.ddie,” and
"Eddie." I'min here on. I’m call-
ing him “Kilcon”). 'Iwig isn’t
helpful, but the pa.ssword should
be obvious. In the shooting
gallciy-. the good guvs are usiiallv

From the people
who wrote the book on

5:i\nnor

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Circle Reader Service «164

ADVCNTURC/RPG

SCORPIA

; l’itiKlltp)(r!NS,i'BttElllpp(r!IIO,l'lS.

T here are four suspects in Ripper, and there are enough
oddities about each to make you think that any of them
might be the Ripper. Well, guess what? Eventually all of
the suspects will be the Ripper as a new killer is chosen
randomly each time you start a new game. Theoretically, the pro-
gram will keep track of the various Rippers, and select a different
psycho killer for you each time. Some versions of the game, however,
have a bug, and will continue to give you the same guilty party, if
that happens to you, get Ripper version 1.02 (available on this
month’s CG-ROM), which corrects this bug as well as other errors.

police files. Check cventhing there enre-
fiilly. Re sure to pop clown to the Morgue
for ii little suiprise.

At the iinic crsitv, voii have to deal with
the biilletio.s. I''i\e of (lieni are the righi
ones. Renieniher, son’ re looking for an

acklie.s.s, and don’t cn crlook
the bottom of each tls er.
Wlicn voii get to the hang-
out, you'll pickip a little
info and the pa,ss\\'ord to a
\\ell.'llielCI'',onthisone i,s
a simple block pn/yle. lake
your time with it and work
from the hotloiii up.

Sooner or later (probably
.sooner), eon'll hear from
Stephanie. UnfortunaleK; by the time vou
get there, she's become another victim,
and her body’s been iiaulcd away. Now'
you base to deal with Mr. Mppels in the
Morgue, or rather, flic nonfunctioning
eoin|)iifcr.

NEED A CONSULTATION? Dr Burton’s suspicious nature comes from her having a lot
of secrets to hide, so she’ll be evasive even if she isn't the Ripper You’ll know more
after talking to Haman in Act III.

AAA

CYBERMAN 2020 After you enter cyberspace at the newsroom, solve the sliding block |:
puzzle at the Runner Archives-try working from the bottom up, then listen to the bios
of the Runners. |

A. AAA-

1 be chip numbers
w'crc made as confusing
as possible (naturally), so
take your time (you can’t
break anything if\()ii
make an error). Read the
chip guide lolielpyoii.
Kce]D an eye on the
inctcrio tlicleft;each
proper cireuil eoinpleted
will cause one of the lines
to rise toihe top.

Ibis gets you into
Animal Storage, hut now
you base the \ oice lock
to w'orr}' about. Well, I'm
suic .someone you know
has a little expertise in
these matters (do a bit of
reading), The sample, [
may add, nni.st be ve/)’
precise. Cli|) just cxiiclly
what you need, and no
more.

llic monkey pu'/7.1c is
mainly trial and error;
there are no guides to the
proper lexer settings,
aside from tlic reaction of
the monkey il.self. Pain is
not what yon w'ani here.

I Iniinm. Matters are not
looking good for the
good doctor, hut there’s
more to come.

More, for ex;imple,in
Hileon’s .secret w'ell.lhe

ICl'l here is another block pn/y.lc. hut
along slightly different lines. Playwilh it
first to .see how' the pieces shift w'hcn you
click them. As wilii the otlier block puz-
zle, work from iJie hotlom up. There’s
.some very interesting reading in this w ell.

( )f course, during all this \ ou'\ e also
been talking to people I may not have
ineiilioned, and naturally Catherine, loo
(you’d better have!). So exentually you’ll
get a call from Farley to meet liim at tlie
Cafe Duchamp, This ends the act. and
I'd advise you not to watch too closely as
it ends.

ROUGH CUTS

Act 1 1 1- 1 his one starts with a couple of
automated sequences, first with jake
being ronglied ip by Magnoifa, and then
sax'ing Wofford’s life from a mysterious
a,ssas.sin. Ohe Ripjier? Maybe, ma\bc
not.) The real start is in the police station,
where a call comes in from Nelson, It’s a
good thing to follow- up on.

'Ihe hook piizalc is Irieky I’ll jii.st.sa\’
lliere's a certain relationship between the
letter and the hook titles, ’lake it line 1)\-
line and you’ll solve it. At tlie Wofford
w'ell.you learn about the three parts of the
w'capon to use against the Rijiper. You can
pick them up any time \oii like: there’s no
riisli. 'Iwo of the wells lia\ e hostile ICF.
While they look different, both are vulner-
able in ilic same place: ihe glow'ing gems
on their heads. Aim for lho.se.

'I lie third well has the most-liated puz-
zle of Ril’PKie a che.s.s-like stralcg)' game
against tlic computer, and \oii don’t know
the rules. In brief, it goes this way; Pawns
move one square in any direction. After
the first capture, a Pawn changes to a
Super-Pawn tliat can capture anv piece
on llie board. Knights cannot move iinlc.ss
they can lake a piece exacllv tu'o squares
away After a capture, or after all xoiir
pawns are taken. Knights change to "real”
Kniglifs, that can move one or two
squares any direction, any time it’s your
move. Kings can oiih' move one square at
a time, horizontally or verficallv, and only
along the back tw o rows of the board, i
cheerfull) admit to phning this one in
"e!!.sy pii/zle” mode and von may want lo
do the .same.

ADVCNTURE/RPG

SCORPIA

► S!onekeep-For those
who haven't started this
game, or haven’t gone too
far with it yet, there’s a ter-
rific easter egg, right at the beginning. When you’re standing
at the lever to open the door, pull it three times in a row. Turn
around, step into the hall, and go around the comer left.
About three or four walls down, on the left side, is a panel.
Pulling the switch there opens a secret passage behind you.

In the passage, on a left wall as you enter, is another panel.
Behind that is a very powerful dagger, that will make most of
(he early (and even not-so-early) combats much easier Note,
however, that this weapon is available only if you have not yet
gone down the stairs! Once you've entered Stonekeep proper,
the dagger is lost to you (my thanks to Roe Adams),

► Dark Seed 2-Those who have managed to get into the back
room of the Morgue (cheery place) are having a bit of difficul-
ty in obtaining the k^ from around the corpse’s neck. This is
an instance (one of many in the game) wliere conversations
with the fight people can help a lot. The carnival is the place
for the answer here-especially for seeing double and looking
into the future. When you’ve taken care of that, getting the
key won’t be a puzzle. -Sco/p/a

Rut tlicrc’s more to do lliiiii
play games with IClv i lave a
dial with Calheriuc, for
instance. 'Flial piit.syou on to
CIcorge Rliocles and a safe
deposit box. Whals the combi-
nation? I Icb, I’m .sure you can
ihink of something related to
Riiodc.sfor that one.

'Ibc Bennan well pii/de is
someiliing like Conccnlrafion,
only liere you have to uncover
the same three bar code num-
bers in onK’ three mo\’es.
Watch how the pieces mo\'c
when thepu/y.le re.sels, then
gel all the numbers on the
board. Keep track of them, and
you should make it through
here preth’ quickly.

Now is a good lime to visit
Sua[5 Beatt}' for a couple of rea-
sons, not the leasl of which is a
little protection from the Ripper.

1 !e sends yon on to Cain, who points you
to a pair of welk The ICd'l on one is an inf-
lating [limping puzzle (I did this in eas\’
mode, too). 1 lead left, ii|j the left side, then
work your way gradually to Ihc righl and up
where the machine is hosering. Do not
waste time here; keep inosing.

The other well has a ])uz/.le with an
Rgsplian motif. Tlic vulture is the begin-
ning, ch?Tbc beginning of what? It looks
bard, but really, it’s as easy as /\BC {e\’cn
so, you still have a lot of w'ork to do before
) Ou obtain the answer).

/Vnuvay, enough of es herspace for
now; mailers in the real world deinaml
your attention, too, iVlagnotta’s apartment,
for instance. Check Ihc left side of the
door as well as the righl.

You’ll also want to talk to 1 laman (in
three of lour .sccnario.s. this is quite impor-
tant for detennining the Ripper, along
with a couple other things). If you haven’t
turned him up yet, think: who’d know
about crooks?

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(he other characters here and tlierc.
Onc of them \\ ill gi\'c eon a picture of
the .suppo.sed Rip|)er. Is it real, or is it
.\]einurex?Goocl c|iieslion. Sliow it to
the most likclv person to get a lead on

►AOL (new!); Scorpia’s Lair
(keyword: Scorpia).

^Delphi: GameSlG
(Groups and Clubs menu)

►GEnie; Games RoundTable
(type: Scorpia)

►Internet: scorpia@aol.com

►U.S. Mail (with a seif-addressed,
stamped envelope if you live in the
U.S.)

Scorpia, PO Box 338,

Gracie Station,

New York, NY 10028

SCORPIA

what you should do about that.

I'A'euliially.w hen eveix thing has been
done (in whales eroicler). Dr. C'able will
call with the news that the image ol the
Ripper (the real image) is about to
become clear.

Naturally, it disappears just as you hot-
foot it into the lab, and the Ripper iiwites
\’ou to visit the libian and read a certain
book. Dovoii dare?

Act IV-Well, soil'd belter dare,
if you want to w in, 1 Inw eser. iusl
ill ease you’ve settled on the
w rong .suspect (or olhenv isc foul
up), I reeomineiid saving beiore
you deck in; it’s \oiir Iasi chance to
do .so.

)ake turns up in v irtual
Wliileehapel, where the weapon
])arls must be merged into a
whole. This is simple; just listen to
the .song Krics. 'Ihen it’s olf to the
erovsroads, where the foiir.siis-
peel-s appear one at a time. When

you .see the one you think is the guilty per-
,son, click the weapon on him or her.

Yni’ll knovv])reit\ c|uickly ifyou’ie right or
not. I hope von chose eorreetiv’.

WTevv ! A little too close for comfort,
that was. Ifvoii need help with an adven-
ture. feel free to drop me a line at any of
mv addresses. Until next time. ha])py
adventuring!

NO TIMELY RESCUE The last fateful call you receive from
Stephanie comes too late to prevent her from becoming a vic-
tim, but don't grieve so much that you miss important clues.

THE PMDORA DIRECTIVE: PLAY IT AGAIN, AND AGAIN...

Tex Murphy returns in the most replayable interactive movie

A/J t'nomious Six-CD Cinemutic Epic!

TTiC Story- Whac is the truth behind
tlie rumored Ul-'O crash at
Roswell, New Mexico? Why
did the military suddenly shut
down and seal off the
Roswell complex? And
why the frequent refer-
ences to the lost Mayan
civilization? It stares out
like a hiiiulrccl ocher
cases. $500 a day (plus
expenses) to track liown a
missing person. As you
pick up i'homas Malloy's trail,
you realize you’re not the only one
looking for liim. by the time you dis-
cover cliac he’s ex-military and knows
what really happened on July 6, 1947,
it's too late. ’The government’s biggest
secret is loose and you're trapped in a
deadly game of cat and mouse witli
cite most powerfui and ruthless
agency in the world. Based on the
novel by Aaron Conners.

The Features- The most rcplayabil-
icy of any intcr.active movie to date!
Tollowone of //wf narrative paths Icad-
difTerem endings. Choose
between two levels of play.
The first level offers
complete on-line
hint system to help
you through the
tougher puzzles.

The second level —
for expert gamers-
has no hints availahle,
but rewards players with
higher btiruis iioints, extra
puzzles and focations. Our
unique “Virtual World” engine
allows vou to slip under desks, rifle
through drawers, and sec the flies
tanning in the ligiit fixtures.
Without the restrictions of ren-
dered paths, you can explore Tex's
three-dimensional world with lull
frceilom of movement.

made!

The Cast- Knjoy the differ-
ence Hollywood cinematog-
raphy, acting, editing, stunt
work, music, and direc-
tion make as the world
ofTex Murphy becomes
amazingly real. Starring
Barry Corbin {Northern
Exposure. \Kir Gaines),
Tanya Roberts ( View to
a Kill, Beastinaster),
Kevin McCarthy
{Invasion of the Body
Snatchers. Just CansA> and
Chris Jones ( Under a
Killing Moon, Martian
Meinoranduin, Mean
Streets) as Tex Murphy.
Directed by Adrian Carr
{Qjiigly Down Under,
Man from Snowy River,
The Power Rangers).
Original music by
Richie Havens and
Nicole Tindall.
For inoiv info, call
1-800-800-4880

ACCESS

Circle Reader Service d246

ADVENTURC/RPG

Price; $49.95
System Requirements:

486-DX66 or better
(Pentium recommend-
ed), DOS 6.0, 8 MB
RAM, 30 MB hard disk
space, 16-bit High-
Color SVGA graphics,
2x CO-ROM (4x recom-
mended), Microsott-
compalible mouse,
Sound Blaster IB-com-
patible sound card.
Protection: None (CD
must be in drive).
Designer: Activision
Publisher: Activision
Los Angeles. CA
(800) 477-3650
Reader Service ff: 320

is the world's second old-
est profession and just as honorable
as the first."

— \ fichael f. Barret. C7A

A clisisirm's new i mill i-inillioi
clolliir ;kI\(jii1iiic. SncilAFi;
TiIK C.RIvM'C'.AMK Slll>-
incrgcs you inllicciark
wiirld of intcTHiitioiial espi-
onage as a newbie CIA
iiperalive. As irsiial, the
falcofdicfvce ssorlcl
bangs in (be balance,
aiul you’re tile woiikl-be
hero assigned to pull I mniai lily's collee-
li\’e bacon out ofthc fire. I'fesh from
) ()nr bail ling at ‘"llie l'ann.”yonaic
llmrst into action bv tiic Iwin a,ssassina-
tions ofyonrCIAiiislriiclor and
llnssiaii potilician byodor nubanski
early in llie gainc.'nie same intelli-
gence source lhal predicted Dnbanski’s
dcalh has warned of an alicnipt on the
lifeofllie PrcsidenlofllicCniled
Slalc,s.and the big bosses want
aii.swers. fast. Who shot Dubanski? And
win?

wouldn’l w ant to use the game’s Kennedv
.Assassination 'Ibolkil to soK e a real assassi-
nation-biit as a dcs’ice to present a puzzle
and adv ance Ihe plot, it w orks.

'llie peo])le, projects and programs all
have code names and acronvms.

SuvcilVKl abounds with I larmonica.s. Bird
Songs, I'kiglc Shields and Pbolo Docs,
'lire game owes much of its realistic feel

Wliile nio.st computer games gel up to
speed after about 10 minutes of game pla\
and then struggle to hold that plalean,
Sh'CKMT'splot unfolds as \on go along.
'Ihe game feels a little shallow at first, but
it becomes deeper and deeper as von piav.

lames /Vlams, the writer of SlACKM'l',
has w rilten an ad\ enliire that o])enlv
in\ lies comparison w ith the works of'lbm

RECEive : RgrowT }

j^TALL, DARK AND UGLY With the Mix and Match tool, you cart reconstruct the faces of sus-
I pects, then submit them for database searches.

IS THAT A CAMERA
IN YOUR POCKET?

In Sl’YCKAFr.von'rc iniincrsed in llie
toys of the espionage trade: voiee analysis,
image enhaiieemenl and database
.searches. 'Ihe game’s varions tools
ahonnd w ith sD models, infm-ied pho-
tographs. anrl dalalrases of all description.
'l()u can eav esilrop on phone calls, sernli-
iiize peojde’s use of elevators, and peruse
lists of know n associates. Viu’il doctor
photos, anil ev en pop a cap in a few had
gn\s. Most ofthc lime, ihongh.you're
skimming Iroin eompuler to computer,
lirograni to program, gathering and aiia-
Kv.ing data, and hailding enmpiiter mod-
els of crime scenes and snspccls, hnch
program il.self is aetnallv preth .shallow-!

to Oleg Kiikigin, I’bnncr N lajor General
of the KC'.B, who oversaw the US-ba,sed
couniei-inlelligence operations for the
KGB for 12 years, and former CI.A
Director \\ illiam Colhy. Both ser\ ed as
adv isors on ihe game, and ])nt in brief
cameo.s.

GET SMART

SmtlUl'T does something .so new. so
amazing, that I'm still in a tizzv about it: all
the pn/yles, derive direclly from the plot!
'Miere are no ibinlvdisguLscd games of
iVlaslcv Mind. No magic .squares. No
maze,s. Pins, has picntvofplol.

Clancv’and )ohn li'Carre. In fact, the
game’s storv' could have made a good
novel. (I low manv’ adventure games have
yon played recently lhal yon can ,sa\' dial
about?) 'Ihe game effectively adds little
bits and pieces, such as biographies and
news articles, that siiiqdv wouldn’t work in
a book or movie but seo e to add texture
to a computer game.

I he game’s plot is verv' linear with a few
branchings, but not enough to make you
aetnallv- w ant to go back and plav the
game over from the beginning, h’or the
most pari, the strnciure is sim|)lv go to
location A, .solve puzzle; advance to B.

JULY 1996

Circle Reader Service ffISS

The world is fantastic,

The evil is re^.

le game is

ADVENTURC/RPG

REVIEW • SPYCRAFT— THE GREAT CAME

sol\c iniz/le, iiiicl so on. Slill, ihc slon' line
tliiiE dc\'clops-hill of clcctiic guns, liciirl-
iilliick mys. renegade spys and nuclear tcr-
rorisni-is \’er\' .salisfying,

A quick walkthrough of your first assign-
ment-locating the shooter in the
Dubanski assassination-will give you a
feel of playing Sfycraft.

None of the hundreds of witnesses to Dubanski’s
death heard a shot, so i start my investigation by
loading up a database of stealth weapons. (On the
video of the assassination, however, there is a defi-
nite rifle-like report, which will throw many people
off. But this bang is evidently a bug in the game.
Ignore it.) Close examination of the video taken after
the assassination reveals a peculiar pattern of bullet
holes. At first I thought this was a typical game
blooper; no single shot projectile would leave a pat-
tern like that. A quick search through a CIA data-
base of stealth weapons, however revealed a secret
(fictional?) weapon that just might leave such a pat-
tern. And it's a silent weapon, to boot. Aha! That
wasn’t a blooper; that was a clue!

Next, I pulled up the Kennedy Assassination
Toolkit, which combines a 3D computer model of a
scene with the video. Careful inspection of the
video revealed bullet holes in two locations. I select-
ed the corresponding locations

on the 30 model
and the KAT plots the bullet's tra|ectory. Odds
are the guy standing at an open window at the end
of that trajectory is the shooter.

I zoomed in on the suspected shooter’s face and
employed another program, called Mix and Match,
to build up an image of the shooter’s face by
selecting the closest match from an assortment of
face shapes, skin colors, noses, eyes and so forth.

A database search provided me with a match. But if
this guy is the shooter then things are even worse
than anyone thought.

^ SPIN A WEB Spycraft's Intelink, sort of a miniature WWW, provides you with access to
I e-mail, news and the CIA’s databases and tools as you hunt for the killers.

SPOOK CITY

Si'i'ciWl's l'’M\'.s(.'C|iic'n(.'o.s iiiL-wcll-
writlc-n, wcll-.shot unci guncnilK- wcH-
aclccl. but for the ino^t pari arc not iiilcr-
acli\ c', serving mainly lo deliver pioi-
adv aneing lumps of exposition, 'l()ii’ll
inlerael will) lliegainc primarilv lliroiigh
Intelink, a W’eb-like secret network .seixiiig
tlic Cly\. I-'BI, NSA, NRO aiul lire wbole
al])habct .soup ol .s|)ook shops. I Isers of
W'eb brow-sers like Netscape and Mosaic
w ill fee! right at home here.

SinciUKl 's I’DA brow .ser incor])(jrale.s
inlegraled e-mail, video mail, ideenufer-
eneing, and access lo your tools and tov.s.
'liui also have a home page, and you can
jump foixvard or hackwarcl.or follow
hvpcrlinks to other pages and apj^liea-
tion.s. 'nic PDA also features Wcblink,
which, paired with some supporting .soft-
ware. provides a portal to the real W orld
W ide Web, w here you can post hints and
([i!e.slions and chat with other armchair
spic-S-The l’nAisvcn’ea.sv to u.sc,
alllioiigh it’s .sometimes euinher.some lo
get somewhere on Intelink (yon can’t cre-
ate boolouarks or keep a .session history).
Sincaui r’.s W'eb-iike interface helps sirs-
pend disbelief and inimer.se yon in llie
game-sincevou’re aireaciv' sitting in Iron!
of a eompnler running software, it’s not
that much of a strelcli lo imagine llial
vou’re sitting in front of a different coin-

piiler, I'liiiiiing differeiil .sollware.

ShiaiU'l' docs suffer a few inlei face
warts. I'irst.von musi read all the lexl-anci
there's a lot of il-vonr.seif, rather Ilian
hearing it read aloud, and von can't
change the text's l\])eface or size. Worse,
on one of mv machines, the text was
impioperlv aligned, .so that sentences ran
off Ihe light side of the wiiidovv.

'liiii must alw ays start tiie game from
CID //]. saving voiir game is a minor pain,
and , Activision’s fuiikv .sound drivers plav
far toosofllv. Still, there’s nothing here
that should keep voii away, Sl'icaiM'l' is
an exeelleiil, groundhreaking adventure
game, selling a new standard for |ilol
depth and realism. W hen vou’re fini.shed,
you'll be eager to head to Arlington and
put those sleuthing skills lo w ork. ^

^APPEAL: Spycraft is a game for
anyone who’s ever wanted to enter a
Tom Clancy novel and push all the
buttons themselves.

^PROS: Great plot and clever inter-
face immerse you in the adventura
Plenty of depth, texture and detail
provide a realistic atmosphera Every
puzzle derives from the plot.
►CONS: Despite
the tense plot,
there’s not much
action. A few
interface blemish-
es make the game
awkward at times.

JULY 1996

FOR MORE INFO ABOUT MICROFORUM
PRODUCTS CALL; 1-800-465-2323
Tel;(416)6S6-6406 Fax; (4 1 6)656-0548
I WOODBOROUGH AVE, TORONTO, ONT. CANADA M6M 5A1
INTERNET : http://www.mi<ro{orurn.{Offl
Email; moil@microloru[n.(om
Circle Reader Service #127

by ordinary trivia games? Then get your head
around , the once-a-millennium,

intergalactic trivia competition. You'll face a barrage
of questions in categories ranging from
to popular culture, ond challenge your strategic skills in an
• exciting series of events. Each "game

within a game" provides o unique set of challenges, from

to an ,

ond brings you closer to your ultimate goal - the

competition and yourself as the

Test your knowledge against the galaxy's best minds, in a wide
range of categories including brain teasers, human invention,
sports, movies and music.

' Compete against computer-controlled, alien opponents in one player
mode, or against a friend in two player action.

Race against bizarre, 3D rendered oliens accompanied by explosive special
effects and full-mation video

ADVENTURE/RPG

REVIEW • PSYCHIC DETECTIVE

Price: $59.95
System Requirements;

486 DX-50 (Pentium
recommended), 8 MB
RAM, 21 MB hard drive
space, VESA-compati-
ble SVGA video card
with 1 MB RAM (2 MB
recommended), 2x CD-
ROM (4x CD recom-
mended), digital audio
card.

Designer; Colossal
Pictures
Publisher; Electronic
Arts

San Mateo, CA
(415) 571-7171
Reader Service d: 31 8

Looking Through
The Mind’s Spy

Play Head Games In An Interactive Movie That Lives Up To The Name

by Arinn Dembo

s 0 gamer, you learn to lake
ihc ads witliagraiii {or
ma\ l)c a metric Ion) of salt.
I'A’ciy company wants yon
to believe that their game is
going to bethegreate.st
thingsince the flushing toi-
let. I'Aenliially, a gainer gets
downright c\nical.

Now ada\s, when I hear the
bii/y, fora game billed as the lirst interac-
tive movie w ortlw of the name, that
comes complete w ith a cool premise,
state-of-the-art graphics and professional
live-action video, part of me says, "^eah,
light. And I'm the Queen of h', ngland."

But even' once in a while. I find a gold-
en needle in the haystack, a game .so good
that I leap up from mv' .seat, grab the game
box, and go ninning down the street in mv'
bathrobe, screaming, “Isuieka! Kiireka!

[he ads are all true!" .And then I rush
home and pack my bags for Biiekiiigham
Palace. Psi'c;i IK; Dhti rtci l\ i; is one of
those games.

SOMEONE'S IN MY HEAD

Pstciik; DL'I KCTIVi: is the first interac-
tive movie that lives up to the label. Bv
interactive movie, 1 don't mean that it’s an
adventure game with live-action video
and recorded dialog. I mean that von’re in
a movie where events take place in real-
time, and life contimies around you
wiietheryou do anvil ling or not.
Gameplav is woven into a rich net of
characters and plot, 'ibn begin as liric box,
a cheap lounge act who calls himself The
Psychic I'lash. I ie’s just minding his own
bii.sine.ss, making an easy living reading
pocket watches and silk haiKlkerehiefs in
a dingv' night club. One day trouble

comes in the form of I ;iina lAi/ok. She
wants him to help her "keep an eye on
things” at her father’s wake bv' using his
psychic powers to invade the minds of her
late fathers friends and family.

'this gig might be a piece of cake,
except that l;iina and her faniilv area
bunch of mthlexs .sharks, I iiina’s father
wasMadimir Pozok, a famous Soviet
re.searcher into the paranormal, and his
friends and familv are falling over them-
selves to .sell his notes and papers; some
arc wheeling and dealing with the highe.st
bidder before Vladimir’s body is even cold.
And, .s])eaking of bodies, one of them will
be dead before the jrartv’s ov er...

Gameplav consists of hopping fmm
one person’s head to another, eavesdro])-
ping. making .snap decisions and reading
objects. Wlicn a person paxses clo.se
enough for Krie to hop in, an icon of the

individual appears in the area surrounding
the movie .screen, h'.iic enters that person’s
mind bv selecting the icon. Once isric
trairsinits, he can see through that person’s
eyes, hear w hat they hear, and can lio])
again to anv other person that pa.sse.s w ith-
in range. Once he’s in a host, there’s no
limit to how far he can ride them; the vic-
tim can go for blocks or even miles with-
out shaking him, and kric can return to
his own body atanv' time,

Reading objects is another matter
Krie’s clairvoyance is an extremely visceral
experience; touching a charged object
will hit him with an incredible montage of
images and emotions. Sometimes he can
make .sense of that mess, but more often
he needs other clues. Ditto for reading the
deep psyche of another human being.

As in life, the moment in vv hich to take
action quickly passes. If voii don’t jump

JULY 1996

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ADVCNTURE/RPG

REVIEW • PSYCHIC DETECTIVE

on thcchiincc: lo h()|)
into someone’s head, fol-
low them in \ oiir car,
sa\e a life or read an
object, you will lose vour
opporiimit); lL\’ciitsare
transpiring in real-time; al
least two or three things
are always hap])ening al
once, usualK’ in scjiarate
rooms or e\ en opposite
ends oftown.aiul hric
ean't be e\•er\^vhere al "
once, 'lour decisions guide the mo\ ic
tow ard one of H endings but in ail scenar-
io.s, hlric will end up playing Black
l')iamond, a fiendish game of ])s\ chic
chess with the biggest, baddesi 1 lead-
hopper of them all. he stakes are high; if
he I0.SCS, Mric could wind up a drooling
idiot. ' 1 he decisions he’s made in the
course of the game w ill determine
whether his ])ieccs on the Black Diamond
boaid are Queens, or worthless pawns.

PSYCHEDEUC SENSATIONS The “Interactive movie" tag is
actually applicable In Psvchic Detective, due to the often
bizarre cinematic flow of the adventure.

PARTING IS SUCH SWEET SORROW

Is there an\' downside to this game? It’s
hard to find one. 'Ihc production, writing
and ijrcmise arc some of the best Inc seen
in an\’ computer game. ' 1 he script is origi-
nal, sensilh’c, mature and tasteful, and
although there’s a good deal of\iolenec,
it’s not gralnifious. ’flic gamepkn’ is
engaging, and the interface is easy to use
with first-rale graphie,s and effects.

If 1 was to put my finger on the one

thing wrong with Ps^cilic; Dl'rn'.cnM:, it
would be that gameplay is too short: a full
game takes less than an hour. But since
there are so main’ endings, the replay
\aliic is ama/ingly high. Ne\ertliele,ss.
main' pknere will exhaust the enfertaiu-
inenl potential of Ihc game after 20 hours
are up. and as adventure gamc,s go, that's
not long at all. Still, the 20 hours I ])laved
it were the most lewardingliine that I 've
spent with a game in months. %

APPEAL: A good game for those
craving a truly original title.

PRO& Very strong, very mature plot,
spiced by an original premise and
interesting gameplay. The first real
“interactive movie” we’ve seen.
CONS; Quite
short. Average
player will get
20 hours of play.

Good quality,
but not much
quantity.

P Originally developed for
. military air combat simulators,
the ThunderSeat uses the
^ sound output from your
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accurately describes what

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Circle Reader Service #121

THE DAME WAS LOADED • REVIEW

Filing Blanks

They’re Mean Streets, Indeed, In The Dame Was Loaded

Charles Arda1

;mnoiicl Clnindlcr, creiitor
of I’liilip Marlow'c and
master of the hard-hoilccl
nivstcn; said: “'Ihe a\erage
dctccti\ e siorv' is probably
no worse tlian tlic
average no\el, but
you never sec the
a\erage no\el. It
doesn't get pub-
lished. '\ be average — or only slight-
Iv abo\e average — detecth e stoiv'
does.... Tiicre are esen a few ojrti-
inists wlio bu)' it at the fid! retail
price of two dollars, because it looks
so fresh and new and there is a pic-
ture of a corpse on the eo\ er.”

Well, times have changed, but
Chandlers' obsen afion hasn’t. 1Kie.

Tilt; D.wit: WWs I.o.\di-;d comes on
a CD-ROM rather than between
the covers of a pa|rcrback, costs S40
instead of two, and has a picture on
the co\ cr not of a corpse but of a
poutv'-lipped bninettc holding a
smoking gun; but for all that, it is as
average a mvsterv as Chandler

w'isecrack-that you haven’t seen before in
a dozen jDriv'alc eye mov'ies. 'Ihe story'
goes like this: P. I . Scott Anger is hiicd by a
doll named Carol Klein to find her miss-
ing brother, and two CDs and manvsaxo-

same motionless .screen. Until you see this
for voursclf, you can’t imagine how cheap
it looks.

Ihis is not the only example of poor
production. Belter game designers w ould

r TIRED AND TRUE Scott Anger’s world is private-eye vanilla, right down to the unused Smith-
Corona typewriter on the desk.

could have imagined.

CLICHES GALORE

I don’t tliink there is one thing in Tl it;
D.vml; W\s Lo.ADiiD-not one character,
one .situation, or one weary

APPEAL: (f you like your detective
stories hard-boiled and familiar, this
one comes with all the cliches in
place, right down to the hero’s fedora
and trenchcoat.

PROS: The video segments are well-
filmed and the theme song is catchy.
CONS: Bad writ-
ing, bad acting,
bad game design;
it’s the multimedia
equivalent of a
hat trick.

phone riffs later. /\nger saves the day.
/Mong the way. he feeds a donut to a cor-
nipt cop, p!a)',s poker with some hoods in
a spcakcas)', inv'cstigatcs the theft of some
diamoiuls, flirts with the sister of hi.s dead
lover, and exercises his ,self-flagcllaling
scn.se of humor .so often that you w ant to
put a bullet in him just to shut him up.

Cameplay con.sists of choo.sing one of
a dozen locations from a map and then
cither hunting for clues bv mining the
cursor around the .screen or questioning a
character by selecting topics from a list,
[facli location starts off with full-motion
video but after Ihe intro, the .scene contin-
ues onlv as audio with a still photo of the
talking character filling the screen.
Occasionally, tlic shot moves to an
extreme clo.sc-up of the character’s eyes in
an attempt to hide the fact it's .still the

have known that requiring players lo
return to Anger’s office any lime they
want t(5 save or load a game is a rotten
idea, aitd might have caught the bug that
kc|)t crashing the game every time I tried
to talk to ./\ngcr’s partner. And better writ-
ers w ould have written narration that
makes sense. Wlicn vou look at vour
watch and Anger sal's, ‘Tlie heat rises off
the sidewalk and the bankers pick their
teeth and make another three percent.’'

1 lull? Better jokes might at least have
made the whole thing work as a delicions-
K' chee.sy gag.

But D.AMI; isn't better, and it isn’t deli-
cious. Philips made a serious attcm|)f to
produce a good hard-boiled mv stery
game and they failed. Chandler would
have advised you to save your two dollars,
and he’d have been right, ‘t

Price: $49,95
System Requirements:
IBM compatible 486-33
(Pentium recommend-
ed), 8 MB RAM, VGA
graphics, CD-ROM,
mouse.

Designer: Beam
Software

Publisher: Philips
Media

Los Angeles, CA
(800) 883-3767
Reader Service §: 321

JULY 1996

ADVENTURE/RP6

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PETER OLAFSOK • ACTION

all it the for-
gollt;ii war.
'niccoinliat-
basccl shoot-
cin-ii[) has
become
soinclhingof
a lost ail
I^()!)\i has
so redefined
the 3D action-game indiislr\ — much as
/ hm/ did the action-movie indus-
try'— that, were B.M’llFZONt'; to surface in
mid-]996, it would probabK be declared
as “Doom in a tank."

On the consoles, of course. Doom was
a late corner, and the artwasnc\et lo,sl to
begin with. One of its finer expre.ssions
surfaced in when Core Design's
sumptuous helicopter .shoot-em-up,
'riU.M^ics'iitiKi;. appeared on Sega CD.

Core has since taken that technology
to the next level, and two offshoots have
found their way to PC CD-ROM: ]\'C's
Ai 13TiniNni;it.s-tiUi<i-;:,'\iRAss.\i'[;i'
iTi It .'NtMiics-i Kikl-: 2 on the 32-bit con-

§ i I'm a
big fan of
classy ex-
plosions,
and Thunder-
strike has
splendid,
metal-
wrenching
conflagra-
tions. fl

soles) and I !.S. Cold’s Si iiil.LSi I(K:k.

'Ibe results are at once eiiconraging
and disappoiuling, Wdiile each game
sports some intriguing features, neither is
cnlirelv satishing— though for \eiy differ-
ent rea.sons. Indeed, they seem likeo|)po-
site sides of the same coin.

KILLER BLADES

Of the tw o,Al !3
Tl It INDKIIS'! itIKK comes much
closer to pure shooting satisfac-
tion. With all the graphic details
enabled, it looks like a million
bucks, and that buys realrsm.

'llie undulating, textured ter-
rain — great rocky outcroppings,
trcc-co\'ered hillocks— w'hi/ by
at a lluid frame rale with no hint
ot tlic polygon underjjinniug (as
in, sav, Doinark’s P\jNK
CoMMWITiai).

I'm a big fan of classv explo-
sions— it’s payoff for good work— and
TlllNniaisilUKr, has splendid, metal-
wrenching conflagrations.

Communications and guard tow ers slow-
Iv keel over and crash to the ground.
Components of dcstro\ ed vehicles soar in

The Lost Art
OfWhr

Bungle, the company behind
Marathon and Marathon 2, is now
creating original content for the
PC. After they port over Marathon
2. their PC development team will
dive full-bore into creating a
game that combines the genres
of fighting games and DooM-style
3D shooting, with a few plat-
former concepts as well, to cre-
ate a truly genre-busting game. It
hasn't been named yet, but from
what we've heard, it has us
chomping at the bit. Imagine

throwing Akira from Virtua Fighter
into a level from Doom. Add in the
ability to fully interact with the
environment, by picking up
objects and scaling walls, and
you have a game that transcends
fighting and DooM-style games.
The game will be entirely 3D, and
the worlds, of which there will be
eight, will be rendered solely with
polygons. Up to six players will
be supported, since Bungle is
designing it specifically as a mul-
tiplayer game. Although the level

setup is like Doom, this isn’t a
first-person perspective game,
since the dynamic camera will
float and pan around the charac-
ter, even more so than in Battle
Arena Toshinden. Imagine throw-
ing an uppercut at an enemy (a la
Mortal Kombat), and then watch-
ing as the camera flies up from
underneath your legs, following
the path of your fist and flying
with it straight up into the
enemy’s jaw. Expect this “virtua
DooM”-game to ship in late 1996.

JULY 1996

ACTION

PETER OLAFSON

different direelions. Ie;ivins^ in(le|)eiKieiil
irnils of smoke. (All fli;if s missing is ;i w liiff
ofl)iimingdiesel fiiel.)/\ii nelise
enemy— not so much smnrt ns thick on
the ground— proceeds to turn you into
smoke unless vou smoke it first.

poiiitment h;id little to do with the game’s
performance' during the missions. ’ I liev’rc
\’ery entertaining. Wlial s ciisa])pointing is
the sense of emptiness that follows com-
pletion of a mission, niercs a terse evalu-
ation of your performanee — three strikes
and s'ou’re out— and a decoration
if soii've completed one of the
eight short campaigns. But the
game lacks a drawstring to make
)'onteel ])artofaproee.ss.

DIVIDED THEY FALL Core's two games are opposite sides of the
same coin; Thunderstrike has great sights and sounds but poor
atmosphere, while Shellshock suffers the opposite problem.

Klying through bosky hills under the
radar ceiling to rake an enemv eoi t\ ov
w ith rocket fire, vou start to feel that this is
more than a game, it’s an esperience. .A
nice touch that reinforces the feel is the
blasted w'reckage, or at least the evidence
of explosions, w'hich often slays on the
map. loo bad there’s no smoke.

Ctore could have added one more fea-
ture: the abilitx- to control the depth to
which the Icnain isdrawii. I trec|uenllv
lonnd the progam filling in the slopes in
(he loregrtiund as I flew bv. There is no
Mirer w a\' to lift (he suspension of disbelief
than to w atch a game doing behind-the-
scenes sluft on the main
.stage.This mashavc
been neec.ssaiy to make
allowances for slower
machines, but there’s no
excuse for it on a 153
Mi l/. Pentium. I'd have
been happy to take a
frame-rale hit .so that
terrain wouldn’t fill in as
1 flewoser it.

I'hrtunately. this did-
n't happen all the
time — it may be a func-
tion of the le\ el of activi-
ty ona.seetioiiofthe
map — and mvdi.sap-

Duke Nukem 3D: Try these cheats on
for size, Duke.

dnstuff— receive ail weapons and
ammunition

dnitems— receive a full inventory
dneornholio— god mode toggle
dnscotty#— warp, where the first
it is the episode, the second is
the level

dneashman— toss out dollar bills
when the spacebar is hit
Cheats supplied by Gamewire

LOW-TECH TREADMILLS

.Si iKULSi 1 (x;k has more of that
sense of progre.ssioii and transi-
tion. It finds you as the newest
member of the commando unit
“Da Warden/.” \ou command a
tank on a 25-mission (our of thin-
l\-disguiscd real-world liot
spots — assigned hva "Charlie’s
Angels”-like coinmanderw'ho.se
face is hidden. In a given .scenario, you
might have to destroy an armored divi-
sion, blast an enemv base or free hostages.
/Mong tlie w ay, you can fill your own
pockets as w ell - - not cxaetK’ a noble
cause, bill a nece.ssar\’ one— by driving
over crates for cash that can be iLscd to
co\'er repairs and ec|ui|)nien( upgrades
back at (be ba.se.

While it's lianding out lessons.

Si iia.i .SI locK could take one from
Ti 11 iNOhacs-i RiKls. It doesn’t lia\e that
technological da/zle. In fact, as far as daz-
zle goes, it just doesn't ha\e a cine. It
doesn’t matter w here \ (iu are; (he terrain
is alwass flat as a pancake (just as in the
oiigiiialTiii'NntsR.S'ritiKiTand I don’t
care whal fniil has been piled on loj>. It's
still a pancake. 'I he only cover you get in
ibis game is obtained from trees and
buildings, and thcwashed-oiil buildings
remind me of nothing .so nnieh as the
ones in Mrgin’s grim Ml'iCI iWxKRIOluari-
ani, Iron AsS-MilI'.’ [ he .simple ex|)losions
base no kick, and leave no remains. And
(he less-lbaii-impressive enemies make
fnruiu like iron shavings to a magnet.

for a dedicated shoot-em-ii]).

Si 11 : 1 ,1 -SI lociRdoes behave a lot like a sim,
allowing you to rotate the tank’s turret
independent of the vebieie’s heailing, and
gi\ing yon independent control over (be

right and left treads fur fa.sl liandling.The
final \ersio!i will have eiglit-pla\er net-
work play— again, sometbing that might
luwe slotted nicely into 'Ft it 'Nniaes'iKiKK.

Si iRi.i.siiocKalso displays a penchant
for spreading features around different
locales, features that might heller ha\e
been condensed into a single menu to
mon: convineingh’ create the semblance
of a place. In one case, the nnil's home
ba.se is an abandoned island piison. Mach
ofthe.se locations lias an allendani char-
acter, and tliev’ll sometimes offer conlext-
.s])eeific ad\ice and counsel.

TANKS IN DA HOOD

And here’s .something of a twisli’lhe
members of “Da Warden/." all appear to
be African- and Mispanie-Americans who
speak to you in mc's.sages flecked with
urban slang. (“D-Toiir," who rides w ith
you, opines at the outset: “Cjcttin' res|5ect
from the Waitlenz ain’t a given, y’know. Ya
gol,s la freak to earn it.”)

Wdiyam I lingering on this? W'ell, fora
longtime, to judge from in-game eharae-
iers, you'd think computer games had
been conceiv ed when the Anglos met the
Saxon, s. (kimes recently have become
more dedicaledly multienllnral. but I’ve
nev er seen a one that seemed to feature
specific ethnic groups.

If it’s to further the plot, well, then it’s
different — and it contributes a great,
grinding ba,ssy theme for the base
.scenes- and never gets in the way of the
storv, .And if it’s for marketing reasons,
well, it's a little obvious, but it can’t hurt.
Wdiile (he computer-game market lias
expanded eiionnously, its penetration is
still relativeivlow.'R) gmw, it will have to
find wav’s to speak to gioiips bevond the
twentysoinelhing iriiddle-cia.ss white men
on wiiieh it made its bones.

It's just a shame Si iia.LS! !Ot:K isn’t bet-
ter. And it’s a .shame t!ie.se two games did-
n’t meet up at some early stage of their
creation. 1 .sirspcct that, together, they
would liave made one marvelous combat
.sbnol-ein-up (T) RiNDLILSI KXtK?).
Standing back to back, they iniglil have
propped each other up. Apart, each falls
dow'ii where the other stands. And that’s
no way to fight a war. %

JULY 1996

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Circle Reader Service #76 ‘

Solid

ACTION

REVIEW • DUKE HUKEM 3D

Zra

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Reader Service H: 322

Nukin’ The «
Competition

Duke Nukem Ushers In The Next Generation of 3D Action

by Peter Olafson

D uke is king. The voicran of
’l()dci Rcplogk-’s two
Apogee arcaciers has been
resurrected in DuK!;'.

Ni iKK\i31^,and he rules
the roost. I'br action
gamers, ihis is heaven.
DL'KlApreth nnieh the
same cili/en soldier a.s in
lliose early ])lalformer.s:
shock of yellow hair, lank lop, blue jeans,
big damn gun. 'Ilie differences; I le talks,
he’s lost the Coke habit and he w ears
lreud\'wraparoim(l black sunglas,ses. Oh,
and he’s nf)w running around in a 30
world like none oilier.

Dl iKh; is \'eiy iniieh a D( >OM-sl\’le
game: a sort oflTSDsplalterfest in
w hicli our hero la\-s waste the local pop-
ulalioii. opens kescarded doors, eollecls

DUKIN' IT OUT Duke has a truly interactive environment; when you kill the aliens and
watch their blood permanently stain the floors and walls, you’ll agree.

► BULLS-EYE A handy feature in Duke is the
crosshair; which comes in handy when you
lodge a rocket in an alien's forehead.

bigger and better mousetia]),s and acti-
\'alcsend-of-le\ el aulo-dcslruet meeha-
nisms. Il starts out in downtown I ,-V
mrwes to near .space and then back to
Planet I lolKwoocI for the denouement.

But while Doom set the stage, Di iKt'’. fills
in the details iu splendid fashion on
almost evciylevel.

IT'S TIME TO KICK ASS...

Never before has ll lis genre seen a
game that transports \'ou to such a lotalk
immersive environment,
WTen yourshots hit home,
they spatter eneniv blood on
the walls behind them, and it
will be there when \ou come
back. Walkthrough blood,
and vou'll leave behind
blond)’ lnolprint.s. Wlien vour
shots miss, they leave bullet
holes in the walls— and not
optional generalized notion of

want to

from vour particular bullets.
,-\l the end of each level.

Duke doesn’t ealeulale abstract percent-
ages, but lells v’ou bow many aliens v ou’ve
actually scratched.

Dl ikl';’s creators know the value of
•secrel levels as well: There’s at least one
for each e])isode. .sometimes more, and
finding them is a task that will have von
coming back to a level again and again.

GROOVY

In the classic Doom, weapons were
es.senliallvever-more-powerful incarna-
tions of the shotgron —you pointed it,
pulled the trigger and the aliens w ent
down. Dt iKf '. cerfainlv has its share of sim-
ilar weapons, 13ut there's also the I’ree/.e-
Ihrow er. w hich fires a stream of reflecting
ice ciyslals, .setting up fiozen aliens to be
shattered with a well-placed kick from
Duke’s jaek-booled leg. 'I he Shrinker
lemporarily reduces all but the strongest
enemies to the size of a kew])ic doll,
which .said leg hap|)ilv.smuslie-S to pulp.

My favorites w'capons are the pipe and
tripbombs, which allow vou the Inwirv of
hilling the enemv w here vou ain’t. 'Hie
former is effectively a grenade which can
be thrown and then remotelv’ detonated
to delightful effect. Ihe Iripbomb is a 'IV-
remotc-.sized box that, fastened to a wall,
emits a thin red beam. Break the beam,
and anvthing nearb)’ is cooked.

'I he inventoi-)' in Dl 'K!: is an improve-
ment over id’s I liviti’iK;: It’s a real tool belt

JULY 1996

i s ir T i R g.

Prepare for the
Assault-We descend
upon them with Fire!

An action-packed multimedia
gaming experience.

Features smooth-scrolling
combat action.

Over 15 levels of
heart-pounding adventure.

ALSO AVAIUBLE
THE REAL-TIME STRATEGY HIT

WARHAMMER:
Shadow of the
Horned Rat

In the grim darkness of the far future
there is only war!

NOW

AVAILABLE
for WIN 3.1
and WIN 95

http://www.mindscape.com

Copyrighi 91996 Gww Wortshap Lid tnd Minilscipe. AH tights rescived. V^immer
and ths Games Wo/tslmp logo are itgistered Iradematle of Games Workshop Lid. Dark
Crusadois Is a Iradomark o1 Games Woikshop, Lid. MIndscaps Is a registered Irademaik, and
Its logo Is a trademark of Mlndscape. Inc.

womsmf

Circle Reader'Service tt132

''.''/I''.-

ACTION

REVIEW • DUKE HUKEH 3D

wliic'li N’oii’ll Cilll oil llimughoul the gnine.
'Ihe items vou'll find iind load into the
belt are essential to winning. 'Hie jel])ack
allov\.s\oii to reach otherwise inaccessible
high places. Night v ision goggles will dis-
play eneinv silhouettes in utter darkness.

and. sometimes, reveal hints inscribed on
walls. Boots delay the toxic effects of
muck nnderlool, and scuba gear allows
you to breathe nndeiwater.

If von can't use it, oro])en it, or other-
wise interact with it. there's a chance you

can just blow it up. Mirrors shatter to
cx|X).se their pKwood backing, Ibilcts col-
lapse in fragments, unleashing mini gev-
sers of bine water. Biinb disintegrate. And
certain walls can be destroyed to reveal
new paths, hidden regions and shortcuts

supplies it, and you'll teleport Into a hidden
enclosure. Here you’ll find the entrance to a
secret level (“Freeway") and, at the enclosure’s
farthest reaches, a familiar figure hanging
impaled on the wall. “We meet again, Dr.
Jones," says Duke.

Star Trek: The Next Generation

The layout of the spaceship you explore in
E2L3 should look familiar. A rough replica of
the bridge of the starship Enterprise— complete
with Ready Room (and a few non-regulation
surprises)— can be found above the main body
of the ship. After you use the conveyor belt to
reach the circular forward area, open the light-
ed panel to the right and shoot the button high
on its left wall. This opens a secret door on
the left side of the room’s central hub that will
lead you to the turbo-lift. “Hmmm!" says Duke.
“Looks like I have the coii."

O.J. Simpson Case

On E1L1, you’ll find a huge billboard read-

ing, "Innocent?” after you drop down the shaft
from the starting point, You’ll find Duke's
answer to that question in E3L7. A large
“GUILTY!’’ sign (with the exclamation point
painted in blood) can be found in a crate-filled
room on your right once you clear this level’s
first key-card door. And check out the TV at
the far end of the bar in E1L2 for a chop-
per-eye view of the white Bronco and the
“low-speed chase."

2001: A Space Odyssey

Beyond the forcefield off the arena in E2L8,
you’ll find a scarred rock wall. Destroy it, and
follow the corridor it concealed, and you start
to hear a familiar chorus and, eventually, find a
famiiiar black, rectangular shape.

Indiana Jones

On E3L8, take the elevator to the upper
level of the hotel and find the “L”-shaped
swimming pool. Step into the waterfall that

The Empire Strikes Back

On E2L7, descend the shaft in the
right-hand barracks in the Crew
Quarters, and enter the circular vent
opposite your landing point. This will
bring you to the brink of a deep, Dark Forces-
like ravine. In the opposite cliff, out of sight and
slightly to your left, you'll find a jagged open-
ing. Within, you’ll find young master Luke
strung up by his feet, a Shrinker in place of his
light saber "Now, this is a Force to be reckoned
with.” sai^ Duke.

Quake

Once you emerge from the
tunnels at the start of E3L4,
you’ll find yourself facing a black
office building with a triangular
sign designating it a "Quake
site.” This is a replica of the
Texas HQ of id Software. Jump
up on the ledge that fronts the
building, and you’ll set off an
earthquake that leaves the struc-
ture in ruins. “I ain’t afraida no
Quake," says Duke.

The Simpsons
If you can find a spare
moment in your battle with the
final boss in E3L9, check out the sky for a
blimp advertising Homer Simpson’s favorite
brew. (It's spelled “Duf" instead of “Duff.”)

Blow it up for an extra surprise.

D uke Nukem 3D is a regular cornu-
copia of references to movies, other
computer games and recent history.
Here’s a sample of what awaits pop-
ular-culture vultures, and tips on where to find
them.

Doom

In a secret area behind the prison chapel in
E1L3, you’ll find a familiar-looking corpse
clutching its bloody throat. Duke’s comment:
“Hmmm. That's one Doomed space marine."

JULY 1996

CHOMP!™

Gummi Savers®

Snakesi spiders-, dentists
Sharp teethi slurpy tongue-.
Gummi-loogies
To pig out- Or die trying-

Name
Fuel type
Known enemies
lileapons

Mission

ACTION

REVIEW • DUKE NUKEM 3D

l( ) ])icvimislv t;xpl( )ii;cl areas. ’ 1 he lc\ els in
DuKI'.are a .solid ii]o\'e in ihe direction of
ihe nnitahle einironmenl —one in uhicli
onh thc player is a given.

Of course, if you vvanl more flexible
le\’els, you can always build your owo with
the Build editor ihat is included on the
Cn. along w illi a range of uliiilics (includ-
ing a Dc)()j\i-lo-Biiild coinericr) and 41)-
ocki page,s of (locuiiicntation.;\l.so on the

CHILL OUT The Freezethrower, which turns enemies to ice,
isn't the only unique weapon in Duke, but it is the coolest.
Kick frozen enemies for some earth-shattering effects.

CD are the complete versions of Ihe origi-
nal Di W. Nl IKI I.M and DuKl'i NUKitM 1 1, a
rail of A|)ogce demos and screens lor
Di ■KKfo!!ow-u|3.sSll.\nc)U\\'.\l<Ki()l<and
Bi.ODiyand 40 Rcalnis' next-generation
game, the Qi i,-\Ki'.-likc Pui’n'.

NOT QUITE 3D

And yet. for all lhat, it is not perfect.

I )iike's sD is not true slT, as will he imine-
dialeh' apparent from its lexlurcd ZD map
mode. It’s an cffeclis c simulation of siT,
w ith bridges. over]3asse.s and ram)5.s. but
lacks the \ isceni! appeal of a Im n I iKhl

SlKKiK.

While the opening and closing
eprsocles arc consistently inspired, tlie
middle space episode seems eompar.ilise-
l\’ tame in layout, depth and challenge.
(^\■hal happened to the notion ol being
hl(A\ 11 out into .space b\' blowing up the
wrong wall?)

'lechiiicalK; DiiKF.s\cr\' clean.

I lowev'cr. the rich e.xplosions sometimes

appear in front of .some background
objects hut behind others— and in later
Ics’els I occasionalK' knind gTapliical
garbage tracking Duke’s ))a.s-s-age.
Moreover, in certain respects, Di)Ki:is too
close to Doom. 4 he e|Di.sode-ending con-
frontations with giant bos.ses are all set in
arcna-stx’lc levels. Indeed, tire final one is
in a real arena —a football stadium, com-
plete with cheerleaders and goal posts.

There has to be another wav to do lliLs;
the bos.s conlci pursue Duke into a section
of city built almost entirely of destrov-able
walls. Duke’s task would be to avoid his
enemy and the detonations around him
and search for the one building lhat the
boss can't destrov. This ending would have
been iikac consistent with the interactivi-
ty of the previous levels of DUKE.

.Wid last, but not least. DUKl:; is bound
to elicit criticism that it demeans women.

'I he original shareware version .set off a
small firestorm online when the reference
"killbitch" was found embedded in the

7 don't want to read

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Every time you start your computer you will be presented with a menu of configuration choices (e.g.: Old Configuration, Windows,
DOS, Games or Custom). Just pick the configuration that fits. No more making boot disks or Windows 95 shortcuts.

- INCLUDES CUSTOM CONFIGURATION BUILDER

Make your own additional configurations that automatically launch games at startup - all you do Is pick from the menul

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Circle Reader Service #231

DUKE NUKEH 3D • REVIEW

code, 'I bey w on’t !iii\ c to look th;it far this
time. Women here are rc|)rcscntecl as
exotic dancers, cheerleaders and naked
alien captives. /\nd lest you think Duke
sliould .somehow be excused because of
his ostensible role as re.scuer and Karth
.savior, well, think again, isneountering a
bikini-clad dancer, his contribution to her
is: "Shake it, bab\'." \Micn he takes the
mike at a liberated radio station, his spiel

^APPEAL: Duke is for those who
want to play the next level of fast, vis-
ceral 3D action in an immersive world
with attitude.

>PROS: The most interactive game of
its genre; incredible graphics; cool
weapons, levels and monsters; campy
humor and a built-in scenario-editor.
KiOHS It’s not true
3D, there are some
graphic inconsisten-
cies in later levels,
and the overall
treatment of women
is demeaning.

for K'lTI' is “plasing the bieast...uh, the
bcsl tunes in town."

One other note on DuKi': is its multi-
plas er mode. It is incredibly fun blasting
your friends in a DukI'IMa'I'CH, bul the
levels in DukI'- are much loo large when
plavnng with on!\- a few [reoplc. You could
end up spending more time looking for
your friends and less lime actually shoot-
ing iheiu. Ilic major problem with miilti-
plav, though, is that you can't enter and
exit the multiplayer matches at will. So if
you w'anted to exit Dl 'Kt; and change \'Oiir
name, or if a newcomer wanted to join a
game in [jrogress, you’d have to wait till
everyone else c|uit and start a new game.

But, having said all that, Duki; is
ab,soliilc fun. It’sgreal decoastnicling ihe
alien a^essors inlo component ey e-
balls. teeth and limbs while listening to
Duke’s throatyboii niols. DuKi'.’s cini-
ronmeiil isn’t the most compelling 3D
yvorld I’ve seen, bul il is the mo.st fully
realized; dcasely populated with things to

■ r

A'4r'":

'■'e / ’

F-

'.1

•' ..

WHATS IN THE EGG? The women in Duke are treated
poorly, appearing in demeaning roles or as captives, like
this woman in what looks like an Aliens-sV^le egg.

discover, things to interact yvith and things
to bloyv to hell, 'leali, the juvenile humor
gets thin after ayyhile, but it gives the game
attitude and personality.’! here certainly is
room for improvemenl in DUKE, bul the
enyironment Is righi and the gameplay is
fun. So maybe ncx1 time, yvc’ll get a game
tliat aims a little higher. Unlil then. I’ll be
shattering some aliens with m_v bool and
the tnistyol’ kreezetlirower. %

Plant Trees for America

the Arbor Day Foundation.

Your trees will be shipped
postpaid at the right time for
planting in your area. February
through May in tlic spring or
October through mid December
in the fall. The six to twelve inch
trees arc guaranteed to grow, or
they will be replaced free.

To become a member
and to receive your free
trees, send a $10 member-
ship contribu-
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Spruces, National
Ai'bor Day Founda-
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Avenue, Nebraska
City, NE 68410.

Join today, and plant your Trees
for ^kmerica!

The National
Arbor Day Foundation

T ree.s provide food, shelter, and
nesting sites tor songbirds.

Trees increase property
values, and make our
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Trees help conserve
energy. They cool our
homes and entire cities in
the summer, and slow cold
winter yvinds. Shade trees
and windbreaks can cut
home utility bills 15-35%.

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They provide life-giving oxygen while
they remove particulates from ilie air and
reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide.

America needs more trees

The United States has lost a third of its
forest cover in the last 200 years.

Our towns should have twice as many
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Wc need more trees around our homes
and throughout our communities. Wc

10 Free Trees

Ten Colorado blue spruces, or other
conifers selected to grow in your area
will be given to cacli person wlio joins

need more trees to protect our farm fields
and our rivers and streams. To provide
wood for our homes and a thousand
products we use every day.

ACTION

REVIEW • ABUSE

Price: $44.95
System
Requirements; IBM
compatible 486-50
(486-66 for net play),
8 MB RAM, VGA, DOS
5,0 (Windows 95 for
net play), 2x CD-ROM;
supports Sound
Blaster-compatible
sound cards.
If of Players: 1 (2-8 in
net play)
Protection: None (CD
must be in drive)
Developer: Crack Dot
Com

Publisher; Origin
Systems
Austin, TX
(512) 335-5200
Reader Service if: 323

Abusive

Side^roller

Crack Dot Corn’s Baby Suffers A Few Deformities

by Paul C. Schuytema

ciicvcr I run intou
pliilfonn game, i
akin’s meiital]\’
coni])are it toiny
favorite Sega cart:
C.liOlJLS/VND
GliO.s'iS.'niat

giiiiie was one of
the first Sega
games, released in
the late SO.s, Vet, for plavabilils and bclicv-
ability, .Vntisr: falls far short of the \ enera-

bic side-scrolling classic. In Crack Dot
Coin’s Anusi',, soifre an innocent trapped
in a prison, who must stop a mad scientist
from unlciishing a deadly virus onto
luimanih with nothing but xoiir hiillle
armor and laser giin.’lliat, plain and sim-
ple, is tlic entire plot to the lamentiible

PLATFORMS REVISITED

At its liearl, AlUiSK is a platform
scrolling game, where you're running
iiroimd bliisting ever\ thing in sight in vour
•search for pow erups and the end of the

le\cl. I ionesth’, I was pretb’ jazzed when I
first dose into il. I was intrigued when my
alter ego, NickWenna, began the game
brealhinglicas'ilv, bobbing up and down
Irom e\]uiu.stion. I controlled his legs with
ihe kc\ board, hut aimed by using the
mouse. 1 he dual controls were u.seful.
since I could run one wav and shoot
behind me, or .sni[>e straight up if 1 need-
ed to.

Off to a great slart, 1 had high hopes for
this retro game. Sadly, those hopes crum-
bled the first time I encountered a rabid

beastic. 'nic,A//c’n-csc|ue demon was jnsl
a biuiT\’, flickering mess of pixels, w ith no
teal personality. The creature ran around
so franticalK' that an)’ hope at careful aim-
ing was futile. N lore irnportantK’, though,
was that the creature’s chaotic behasior
made it more of a "Ihing to shool” than a
Ihrealeningmulanl. Inshoit, the illusion
of the game was broken mans’ times, and I
ceased to be "in” niv alter ego aiwinorc.

'Ihe lllirsion further disintegrated w’hen
I ran down a slope. No allempt was made
to make it realislic, '1 he .same anim.ilion
as a flat platfonn run w as irscd, so that

w ith each step, one foot was planted in
thin air and the other was in fmnt of Ihe
plalform. 'Ihcrc’s just no cxcirse for .such
visual slopplncs,s.

1 he list of irritants goes on and on,
from a large mining drill that pirshcs your
character along, even though you're w’cil
above it, to switch puzalcs created in such
a wav’ that there is no time to logicallv
soK’c them— all you can do is stab at the
keyboard and hope for the best. In fact,
much of the design Iheoiy of this game
comes from the A on must die first ”
school of thought, rcc|uiring v ou to .sacri-
fice a life in order to get the needed infor-
mation lo advance.

OMINOUS SOUNDS

On the up-side, there are a few cool
things in Al!i!Si-;.'lhc digital effects are
w’onderfui and ominous. ' 1 1 lere arc lots of
nittv’powcnips and a slew of weapons to
snatch up, ,\nd von can piav with up lo 8
other jdav’crs inanciworkgame. In nel
plav', some of the weaknesses of the sin-
glc-]r!av’er game fall aw av; but going
mano-a-mano in Lsr; falls far short of
the lirst-per.son Deathmatch experience.
If you like side-scrollers, vou’re better off
dusting off vour old Genesis, because
Crack Dot Coms.VitliSI'; fails far .short of
even Ihe status quo. %

APPEAL: Side>scroller junkies with
nothing else to play or gamers longing
for a customizable console experienca
PROS: Great sound effects, cool con-
trols, and a level editor; supports net-
work play.

CONS: Pixelated
enemies and bad
game design.

Nothing new here—
would have been a
decent game on a
Genesis in 1990.

JULY 1996

<a>ne

aff &V<sX' ^e

UHiUElisE.

You

By far, the largest, mo^t
detailed foes ever seen in a >.

fighting game. Up to 3/4 of ' .

the screen’s height. i
innovative screen panning^ > •

zooming, real-time scaling, /

shadovi/s, and special wiv . ' *

Interactive, animated^ and)
detailed backgrounds^that
often hide special dangeps/.., w

8 characters, 2 championkt.
and a nasty surprise. ^

Special moves, combosi
resurrections, 8 humi}i»ons&^

Blood sucking, claw siasfk lA
ing, tail whipping, karate ^

kicking, fist ramming, body V
slamming, blood spurting \

action — need we say more?

" v-''

^ '' '

"...reyptutianary game design, it may indeed knock fighting fans into another
■ universe of apocalyptic action.” — Strategy Plus

|j-;>

f it ' s[ '

^Wwi

Gen

INCORPORATED

Developed by Argo Games Software Creations Web BBS (http://www.swcbbB.com)

Published by Apogee Software, Ltd. '%[r • WWW Site (http;//tfwvw.apogee'l .com)

Distributed by FormGen - CIS (Go APCXSffi) AOL (Keyword APOGEE)

° ® “ Circle Reader Service M247

u u

ACTION

REVIEW • BIC RED RACIHC

—

KIHW!)

:iar

Price: $29.95
System Requirements:
486DX-66 or better,
DOS 6.0, 8 MB RAM.

2x CD-ROM drive,
SVGA graphics. 42 MB
hard disk space,
mouse: supports
Sound Blaster compati-
ble sound cards,
Thrustmaster steering
wheel and pedals.
# of Players: 1 to 6
Protection: None (CO
must be in drive)
Designer: Big Red
Software
Publisher: Domark
San Mateo, CA
(415) 513-8929
Reader Service 324

Dumpiruck Derby

Big Red Racing Is Even Too Juvenile For Juveniles

by Gordon Goble

I tried. I reoily did. 1 trial to
put myself in the iniucLsct
(>l the young crowd ;il
whiclt BlC Hi'in K'NCiNCis
.surely aimed. I .swore a
whole bunch, flipped
through an old TTationa!
Geographic to catch some
.skin, then listened to a
Green Da\’ CD. As a final
measure, I rented the movie 'Ihc I
/er/,}' Rfj)s. It didn’t work. I still I
found Bic; Rl-.n to be extremely
juvenile— most likely too juvenile even
for juveniles.

As the name suggests. Bit: Bt';n is a rac-
ing game, backed with suppo.sedlv
humorous witticisius, \ crbal effects and
visual coolnc,ss throughout both the rac-
ing itself and the menu. As it turns out, the
racing is chaotic, repetithe and confirsing,
and Ihe attcm])ts at tcein-bopper humor
are ta.stele,ss, .sexi,st and just not funny.
Although the idea behind Blc; RlSDrealK’
wasn’t all that bad, the e.\ccniion leave.s
much to be desired.

'Ihe idea? Well, let’s just sa)’ that Bic;
K!; 1 ) offers the opportunity to race vchi-
clc.s that are not nomially .seen in eoinpe-
fifion, on courses that are literallv out of

BIG WHEELS The Ireland course is an easy one;
the sheep and the bouncing trucks.

Moon, Venus and Mars, It could have
worked, but...

A REAL LEMON

’ [ lie annosing stuff begins right fiom
the start, with menu .selections that .seern
tovibrateon the .screen. 'Iliongh it’s
meant to be way cool, mo.sl first im|)res-
sions w ill be, “Me\’, is there somcihing
wrong with m\’monitor?'”niercafter,
each menuing key.stroke w ill be accompa-
nied by one of several witt)’ audio bursts.

II you’re lucky, you’ll gel something only
marginally irksome like. “I feel like
drinkin’ a gallon of tuqrenlineand pissiiT
on a brush fire, " while the ImK’ l)les.sed
will enjo)’ the tasteful sounds of buq^ing.

► up and away Despite the innocuous track, the helicopter is one of the toughest vehicles to race with.

lliis world. Big rigs, snow|)low,s, airboals
and helicopters arc just a few of the \ ehi-
eies a\ aiiabie, while racing \ eniics range
from Arctic .snow drifts to circuits on the

farting and really stupid laughter, seem--
inglj’ stolen dircetK' from an epi.sodc of
the tele\ision classic “l lee-l law.‘''iecch.
As )Ou to,^lc through the menus.

you’ll find that BlC
Rf':n isn’t all bad, as
exemplified by it’s
extensive gameplay
options. Aside from
the two dozen courses
and 16 vehicles, you'll
be asked to choose
between one pkner,
two pia\ er s[)lit screen,
just watch out for h' o player modem

and six-pla\er network
modes. There’s also

the driving control .section, w here you can
make your choice of steering, accelera-
tion and braking input, analog vs. digital
joystick, and tlie like. If vou’re realiv’ into it,
} ou can jrick one of .sev eral arcade-tvpe
“characters” as your driver, a color
scheme for his or her driving suil, and
logo for your rig.

Mom there, its on to (he track and
aside from a somewhat cnjovable network
situation, this is where bad goe,s to worse.
It’s hard to pinpoint what’s wrong with rac-
ing in the Big Rivn world, but it’s easy to
.say that it’s not compelling. Visually, it’s a
Iriie >-D affair, but the elemenisare beta
simple, with off-killer v ehicles and
strangely textured and confusing poljgo-
nal terrain, 'Ihere’s little
difference between the
SN'GA and \'Cl'\ modes,
and despite the graphic
simplicih of the game, it
ran slow ev en on ni)'
Pentium 90, On the
upside, both re.solution
and w iudow size may be
changed on (he fly
Ibices are three laps
long on any given (rack
and they last three or four minutes, 'lire
action is hectic, as cveivone tries to nego-
tiate Ihe wild dips, hills and turns that are
[jresent just about evenwhere. I ;ind-

JULY 1996

riL) on tbc 8tb Ciap.
split to iHaui.

Gon't forget
to fccb tlje fisl).

INTRODUCING Afterlife

THE LAST WORD IN SIMS.

WiNPOWs 95, DOS ANP Macintosh
CD-ROM

Welcome lo An.-rlif.-. I'h.' Ili-sl w-orUl-huilcling

simiilalu)!! ihat Ids you maiuific- two piiiiit* planes of
"unreal eslaU***— lu'a\ eii and hell — simullaiienusly.
Possessed of an uneai tlily sense oi humor, it all l.ie^iiis
in a God-kiiou's-wlienr galaxy. 'I'liere. hiilions ol ileparled
souls hunger f'oi' you lo giv<- them uhal llu-y deseix'e.

Start with iIk' Peai'ly Gales ol' 1 h-aveii
or llie I'icay Gales of I loll, zone in liloeks oCdeadly
Sins or goodly Virtues and Imild some I'oaiJs.
Soon, the tleai'ly d<'])arled ai'rive in di-ove^s.

ZJ iSASTERS OF DIVINE
PROPORTION INCLUDE Dl$CO InFERNO

(pictured), Hell in a Handbasket
AND Heaven Nose.

^UILD AND MANAGE TWO PLANES,
HEAVEN AND HELL, SIMULTANEOUSLY.

Keep llicMii liappy ciiid yt)u lloLirish.

Lose loc.i many iilong the wiiy tm<l it's a visit Iroin
llie Four Sur['«“rs of the .Apoealypso (not a good lime).
Fa<-lor in a half-dozen or so disiistei-s (not iiu-luding
total annihiialiim). moin^y ))rohli;ms. lost souls,
headaehes fm the p!an<-t lielow. aiul things
gi:l i-om])lieal<-d in a huri-y.

V^lth o\’er 200 arlisliejilly rendered rc'wai'ds.
nearly .‘JOC) rK;lailerl tiles and Imililings. more maps,
graphs and c.-liarls lliiin you ean shake a pilerhfork at.
|.ilus the most sophislit;aled <‘ngiin‘ of any sim game
beginning -with tlie lelti.-r ‘"A." you've got
iiifinils^ luHirs of gam<‘-play.
Afterlllei Keaeh llie end or die liying.

?Seep $1

? SOULS HAPPY BY PROVIDING
THEM WITH THE REWARDS ANP
PUNISHMENTS THEY EXPECT, INCLUDING

Eternal Afternoon, Tooth or
Dare and Dreamadise (pictured).

Jasper wormsworth and aria

COODHALO HELP YOU KEEP TRACK OF

http://www.lucasarts.com

YOUR SUCCESSES AND FAILURES.

ACTION

REVIEW • BIG RED RACIHC

tniting, even in compiirison lo llie weak-

lockccl vehieic.s will fed the wmlli of
water hazards and abrupt mountain faces,
while boats will do their best to keep in
the middle of their narrow fjords. On
paper, tliis all .sounds pretty good, hut in
praetiec it’s tough lo tell what’s up, what’s
down and which wa\' the dam course
goes.

Adding to your woes, the drising
model is .slopp), unresponsive and fnis-

est of arcade games. Banging bumpers is
quite common, and if (he confusing
graphics don't throw you miles off course,
progre.ssi\e damage to your vehicle might
do you in. Multiple viewing perspectives,
courtesy of rotating cameras, hinder
rather than assist. l-lowe\er. with a couple
of trial ains on each course the whole
thing gets [Drelt)' ca,sy, and as a final blow

to gamepla)' loiigesily, winning a race
against com|)uler competition becomes
almost second nature. As mentioned ear-
lier, racing against real people would
improve lliings somewhat, but other
arcade drivi)ig games such as WniPL-vSfl
and Sc:i(l'.AMi':it also feature network plav,
and arc infinilelv heller. Aside from the
concept, this is one game that reallv can’t
he recommended to an)' age group. %

APPEAL: The immature and imma-
ture-at-heart who hunger for a wild ’n'
wacky driving game that’s got very lit-
tle to do with known physics.

PROS: Good multiplayer game, lots of
camera views, a variety of vehicles
that includes high-performance
dumptrucks and
snowplows.

CONS: Perplexing
and dated graph-
ics, crummy driving
models, easy victo-
ries, tasteless
sound effects.

They*re exactly the same, but somebody

just paid $100,000 for the one on the right.

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TERRY COLEMAK • CLASSICS b PUZZLES

DIUIII

Instrame

A/o Puzzle Power In The CrossWorld

can remember when the
Sunclav edition of the
Neir )()rk I'imcs intimi-
dated me. There was the
newspaper's slieer size,
llie irieredilrle range of
critical thought in the
Times Book Rei’/eii'-and
then, there was that das-
tardl\'pii/y.lc. L'ditist,
obtuse, arrogant. \ es; but it was a turn-
ing point for mew lien 1 finallyeon-
quered tlie abstruse construction, final-
l\- fulfilling its all-too-gcomctric hori-

►The big news for play-
ers of classic parlor
games is that Hasbro
Interactive is working with
Westwood Studios, among
others, to produce new
versions of their classic
board games. Bahleship, for
example, will include a basic
I and advanced version (don’t
I think about that one too
I much). Risk! gets not merely
I a graphic facelift, but a new
I Al and more playing options
I than before. Scrabble will offer
I a “marble” board, stone and
wood pieces, a tougher com-
puter opponent, and a cus-
tomizable dictionary. These
games are getting the same
royal treatment as Monopoly
did, which means lots of flash,
cool animation, and best of all,
the promise of Internet play.

zoulal/verticiil layout to perfection.

With the explosion of Ihe gaming indus-'
tn; it comes as no .surprise lhaf flic
graiiddaddy of all puzzles should go
muhinicdia, along w ith lliaf of its great
eom]3elilor, the LA Times.

Rut Pl.'//i,i';P()\vi';RbyCenlii)ii
Soflw'are 'lechnologics ea])liu'es little of
the grandeur of the 'I be puz-

zles arc far too cas\-: wiicre are the adice-
ti\ cs like “splendiferous?”: win’ docs the
accent of the announcer (as if you needed
one) sound so middle

►Berkeley Systems continues to
develop its You Don’t Know Jack
franchise, with version 2.0 sched-
uled for October. Promised fea-
tures include improved graphics,
even more zany questions, a
"High Score” list, and the possi-
bility of mystery celebrities. Also,
You Don’t Know Jack: Sports
should make it in time for the
Autumn playoffs.

Aniciican, us he points out \t)ur hits and
misics? (I would lun c been happy with a
cabbie from the Rroax.) Wliy is it so bor-
ing \isualK?'lherc is .some variety in the
six games encio.sed. But you’ll rarely need
Rogc’/s 7/!c',s’(/!//i/,s-il i.s included, by ihe
wav-whethcr .solving the lame puz/.lcs, or
creating code of your own in Ciyplos,
Quote I'lills becomes an unfortunate pun,
and Puzzle N luster never lives up to its
name. And while Kriss Kross might be
educational. I’d rather listen to the
band-they’re a lot more hip.

CAUGHT IN A CROSSWORLD

1 f \ ou approach a new medium in a
linear fashion. \'ou preth’ much lose the
strength of both the original (paper)
and the new- (computer). Cametek’s
c.x|)cricnce in mediocre game show' con-
versions to the computer, such as
|l ',(iP\RiW, is w ell-emploved here. A w orse
problem is the material: word searches arc
a lot likcTic-’lac-'lbe. in that w hen you
learn the .secret pattern, play becomes
mechanical and boring, landing .solutions
in C“l« )SSW( iKLf) is thus a lot like looking
fora pixel in.i haystack in a particularl)’
irritating adsenture game.

In fairness, the production lalues of
CrossWc )Ki,n are a lot better than
Pi </y.\.\- l’( )\\ I'.IL In fact, if creating profes-
sional cro.ssworcis and word searches lor

IH These
computer puz
zles need an
old-fashioned
pencil sharp-
ener. 99

TERRY COLEHAN

RESCUED ADRIFT

Your missi on is to unravel the my stery
behind the Ma}e5tic’s.,star-crossed voy age .

Majestic” Part i: AllenEpcpunter is now at
your fav ori te retaile r

oLcall 1-800-PIRANHA,

AN H A

Da £ie«)e Cjue: glvtis fiptions ijelp

■ -Ifflxl

smog

.±

sluilias

surl

television*

wine*

VQScmilc*

gasiartj C^HMPut^ft

Jl® MMSich - CAUF.SPZ

jW"

BLACK & WHITE And read all over is Puzzle Power, nowhere near the magnificence of
its NY Times brethren.

Ete Biclion aoi Quei Qplicins fiboul
Puzzle

■ -inixi

WordSearcher

S?EV

ECNANEPHATPSTNL
TSAUEIRTSNEIOTU
SNHRD@ORAIMSELM
EIADO®UACOGRTTP
JPLPYfSiDNOMIGINY
R E L ■■■■ SBPTGUTL
ENUSIUEPROHAILT
TICARTOOETRUSOS
GTMDLWRQNOTR
EUOAAOEDTOGE

R N I
A R N
H 0 A
C M T

C R D R C D E

ASET
S E N S U 0 I
CD FORMA
EE S C A L A

R E

0 R

1 S
E S

N N Y 1
T I L I
T A Z I
MAD]
R A I I

Hon. May 13

17 AH

.jHodiuB 1 4 1 j » j

CARO

CASA

CHARTER

COWER

CZAR

OEESCALATES

DENNY

EQUITY

ETTES

FORMALISM

HALLUCINATED

JEST

LARA

LITERATES

LUMPY

MOCKERS

MONDAY

NO APPLE HERE While CrossWorld is a bit better it still has some weird limits, often
with several obvious words being left out of the puzzles.

your local knittiirgclub is iinporhinl to
you, then CR()SS\VORi,n is ;i ruisoniible
biiy-biil iIkiI’s claming wilb faint prai.se.
indeed, Wliat most clLsappoinls about
both C;i«)Ss\V()Rt.f)aiKl Pir//i,i.; PcnvKR
is that they are from top-notch publica-
tions, yet they constitute the great step
backwards from .such inspired fare as
Snl\KT (see Cbaiies Ardai’s ie\ic\v
in lliis section), it’sliard to Ix'lievc tliat for
my wecklyero.ssw'ord fi-\. tlie lieavsueight
class is still of wood pulp, ralber than
Pentium. %

The most common lettere in the English
language are ETAiONS. An easy way to
remember this is the phrase “eat
ions”-close enough for solving puzzles.
When working word searches, most peo-
ple look for common words and phrases.
Try searching for weird consonant blends
and you'll solve things more quickly.

Avaitable for Windows* interactive Pu!)llshing.lnc.

or Macintosh* ^ ^ 85283

Ptione: 6o2.49i.o$oo Fax:6oZ49i.S990

Circle Reader Service #293

JULY t 996

■Next Generation

Shellshock and O.S. QOTftaiy.tradt
Playstation and the Playstation l ogo^ re tra'
SEGA and Sega Satorn are tn^&arks i
Circle Reader Service if83 ' • ■

CLASSICS 6 PUZZLES

REVIEW • SMART GAMES CHALLENGE #1

Price: S39.95
System Requirements:

386-SX or higher
processor, Windows 3.1
or Win 95. 4 MB RAM,
2 MB hard drive space,
256 coior SVGA graph-
ics, CD-ROM, mouse.
Designer: Know Ware
Publisher: Smart
Games, Inc.

Marblehead, MA
(888) 427-2469
Reader Service ff: 328

Puzzle Pastry

Smart Games Challenge #1 Is A Puzzle-Meister’s Delight

by Charles Ardai

[>ii>y.le compilation i.sa
fragile tiling, like a
souffle. Willui .slight
variation in teinpeia-
tiireand iinpro|)er
bleiKling of the ingre-
dients, the tantalizing
1 eonfeetion yon w ere'

[ counting on can come
lout a .sogg\' nie.ss. ' loo
main compilations loda\ are made
using creak)' ])nzzlas eshnmed Iroin
the Brainlea.scrs' Cra\'c\'aril and a
tea.spoonful of fancyvisnal elTcels
lhal i.s then carcie.sslv mixed logcllier
in a C)l )-R( )i\ l. What conic.s out of
the oven are fallen .souffles lhaf lack
the dash ol (he intelligence, imagina-
tion, and wit rcciuiicd to make (he
batter rise. But once in a \\ bile, a chef
comes along wlio knows tlic dillcrciice
hehvceii pnifand pastn: (he de.sigiicr of
S\i MIT C l.wiisS C)i LAi.i.isNCi-; tl \ is one
such, and people who .sample hi.s work
will he satislied diners indeed.

BOY, THAT SMARTS!

'I here are 20 different conlests in
.Sm\rtG. Wiles. iuciiiding\\oi<l.scarehc.s.
peg-iumping games, .sliding-tile puz/ics.
and eveiyone's fasorite, "1 ,ifc.”’nic won-
derful thing is that not oiiK'are there plen-
ty of fresher puz.zles, but e\cn liic old
groaners look downright sna/yv. Mic
screen does look handsome; the gniphics
and jazy.s' musical score are on par with
timse of Berkeley Ss-stcius’ wouderfiil
You Don’t KnowJ.ack, but what rcalh'
holds your attention is the chance for
some serious mind-exercises.

Mach game has behsecn band 20 \ari-
atious, and while the first fs usualK' quite
basic, the 6th or2()th is guaranteed to
lease seins in }'our forehead bulging, lake
Cnplogninis. for iiistance. The sucker
hait.-TOBKORNOTrOBh:,” hardiv

Smart Games Challenac

Mavigate Qptlons Puzzle

Help

Native

Tongue

talaowe

arl'rnakat '

:T':

CUARfNr

S(0U

ItS! scon

SHU CtMt

wek'abube

EWig-s'Vj

tepawo

TOFT'

[translate:

tree

m~5TTT

1 Sm I 1

Srfiart G^es Scare:~'i

•NATIVE TONGUE DEPRESSOR Translating “prehistoric ianguages" in Snwrt Games requires more
than sticks and stones.

dcseivcs In be called a crxptogram a( all.
But don't go jumping to an\' conclusion.s.
the water gets dec|) awfulK' fast, and b\'
the time \<)U get to number 20, \on1l be
deciphering row after row of complete
gibberish. What's nifl\' aiKnil SMART
C'/AMisS is (hat you can enstomi/e the diffi-
cult)' lev el; there is no wav to gel stuck if a
pu/yle is too hard for von. and no need to
work through puzzles von find too cnw.

lanv of the games test visual acuit)',
.some vocabular)' and some optimizaition
.skills. Some you’ll recall from IQ tests of
)'our childhood like, "Can this flat dia-
gram be folded to ])mduee this cube?"
Others .seem like the brainier cousins of
video games. ("Use the forklift to move
each h:ill into a container; l)alls can onlv
be pusiied, not pulled.") One of the best
games teaches translation using an invent-
ed language where vou learn vocabularv
and .sentence stnieture bv c.xaniple. Yai
tran, slate simple words and phrases like
'irce”and "bn)wn bear" lirst and linall)'
complex .sentences like, "i iiuni brown
bears with a stick."

Now for tiic dreaded c|uc.siion-is
Cl l,\l.l,KNca': ll\ an educational game?

I leavens, no. I refuse to give it tiiat partic-
ular kis.s of death. Sure, designers of other
pu/ylc games that could look at it and
learn a thing or two. But it’s a game first,
last, and in irciween. AikI wh.it’smosl sat-
ish'ing of all is it.s name, since it suggests
tiiat Cl l.vt.LiiNGli: 1(2 is being cooked up
even as we .speak. Keep 'em coming, 1 sav.
It’s nice to have a reason to kee|) ni)' men-
tal ovenwann. %

APPEAL: Anyone who remembers HI
pencils fondly will salivate over this
souped-up IQ test

PROS: Extremely clever variations on
familiar puzzles and a graded difficulty
scale that ranges from easy to Mensa-
level.

COHS: Though the
cleverness helps,
you're still sliding
tiles and jumping
pegs and crossing
words and doing all
the other old dances
yet again.

IWKWliWI^UM

jlMltsflKfMinfM

UliMViSjKMtUUMt^Un

^•{HiiinitUMiimiiiuBciHii

iiii!JilW/^J!!lwi

ir*lit;/ijrMil/l

IllulnSted

KEJkM. PLANTERS ... KEJkL STJkTSS

Advanced motion-capture technology for added realism

28 fully-rendered 3D Big League stadiums

Features play-by-play with Harry Kalas, broadcaster
for the Philadelphia Phillies™ and l\IFL™ Films

y^ Over 1200 statistics per player dictate game play
y^ Includes actual 1995 and 1996 schedules
y^ Over 850 1995 and 1996 MLBPA® players
y^ Full 40-man roster availability
y^ Waiver wire, trading, active and disabled lists
Head-to-head modem play
^ 4 ^ 1C sound technology

y^ Real time Internet play

actual game screens may vary

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Choose from any of seven fixed camera angles, all presented in
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Circle Reader Service ^56

Available on PC CD-ROM
See your local retailer or order direct by calling:

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Officially licensod hy ihe Major League Baseball Players Association. Sports Illustrated is a registered trademark of Time ftrc. MS-Windows, MS-Windows 95 and the Windows 91
logo ate rogisloted trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. The MLBPA and its logo are registered trademarks of the Major League Baseball Players Association. Spalialirer is a reg
islored trademark of Daspor Products, Inc. Phillies is a trademark of Major League Baseball. NFL is a trademark of the National Football League. Statistics provided by Sports
Toam Analysis and Tracking Systems Inc. ©1996 MicroLeague Sports MicroLeague Sports is owned and operated by Microleague Multimadia Inc. All rights reserved.

DENNIS HCCAULEY • SPORTS

isn't iiny iniKnatioii in sports gtiiniiig.
'llicnt just isn’t enough of it. I low do I
know? Sinij)le-iinnoimcers,

Announc-

VOICE-OVER, HOLD THE MUSTARD

Just nhoiil iiin’.sporls title that wants to
in:ike a splash these dins features a play-
by-pki)’ \ oice-o\ er to spice things up.
Now. this isn’t a bad idea. It ties in with
the sports nostalgia cra/.e, and. if nothing
else, keeps old play-by-play men out of
the soup kitchens. Its nice to .sec fonner
Tigers announcer l'',rnic 1 lanvell iinmor-
tali/ed in Mit.l.l:;K/\.SSOCL\tKS IksiEMl.
h'OK WINIXWS blto.MKASTbiAS'r.espe-
ciallv after his unc^pected and graceless
dumping by the Detroit club in IWl after
umpteen years behind the mike.

but enough is enough. When I pick up
a new sports .software title, the first thing 1
do is scan the box to sec what the de.sign-
er thinks sets Ids game apart fnan the
competition. If pla\'-b\'play announcers
are a major part of the packiige, I’m
immediately siLspicions about the game’s
content. Ihe annonitcer idea is done.
gu\s. Stick a fork in it. It’s getting too
much like a Julia C'hild recipe; “’lake one
sports simulation. M)ld in a hig-name
announcer. 1 lalf hake, and spoon the
w'hole thing onto a CdT-ROiVl, Serves
SO.OOO.Oh, thal’sver>’nice.”

Now', don't get me wrong. 1 laving a

ers should
add to the
Big Show,
not detract

from it. 99

D t’s the ovcr-h\pcd age of
multimedia, and we com-
puter sports gamers have
offered ourselv es up as will-
ing captives to the new era.
.And yet, don’t many of
todav’s games seem .so lull
of sound and fiiiy. often sig-
nifving nothing other than
big bucks? Just what does
the audio-visual gaming’‘paradigm shift"
mean to the av erage .sports-crazed player?
.Aside from the need for a computer that
carries a slt-vear mortgage, games todav'
need to be bigger, brighter, faster, and
louder-all in an effort to make you forget
the last big hit title. Kunny. though: for all
their compelilive zeal, most entertain-
ment .software |)nhlishcrsseem to be
ra|)idlv converging on the same gmiind
zero. I he result? I'A crv sports game that
cros.ses mv de.sk reminds me ol-gue.ss

Our baseball scout has informed
us that Pro League Baseball 96
may not win a computer sports
pennant this year. Problems in
the corporate bullpen have left
manager Dave Holt at odds with
IBM management, to the point
where the game has been
"severely delayed," and may not
see action this year at all.

While there’s no '‘official” word
from Sierra, don't expect Front
Page Sports Basketball for at

what’-lluil .same last big hit title.

(ir.inled, sports games have built-in
liniilalif)n.s based on the rules, histoiy. and
characters of the contests they model,
hour balls w ill alwavs he a walk, and ten
vardsa firsl down., An NBA.simulation has
to have Michael Jordan taking it to the
hoop, just as a pro foolball game suffers
without the strong arm of Brell liivre or
Jerrv Rice racking up yaats after the catch.
And where’s a baseball sim withonl Ken
CTiffcy. Jr.. Mickcv Mantle, and the
I lt)usc'lhat Ruth Built?

Bv contrast, a role plaving game or first-
person sliooter can go lust ahonl any-
where the design team wants to take it.
leaving infinilciv more nx)m to demon-
strate creativih. Want tohasc voiinicw
Di'K!'; Nukkm game on a futiirLstic sci-fi
version of I ,.,A.? C-ool. Sports game
designers arc a lot more restricted in their
possibilities. Tliat's not to say that there

least another year-probably even
later. The decision to revamp
both Front Page Sports Baseball
Pro (see the Baseball coverage
in this month’s big sports fea-
ture) and to re-design Outpost
from the ground up (see Terry
Coleman’s strategy/war column
last issue) left no programmers
for three-pointers-hardly the
backdoor play hoops fans were
hoping for.

Where Hav
Ybu Gone,
Dizzy Dean

The Play’s The Thing-Not The Play-By-Play

SPORTS

DEHNIS MCCAULEY

BLAST FROM THE PAST Whether it's Babe Ruth getting "some serious wood under this
one" or 02zie Smith stealing second, the stats are brought to life by the immortal voice of
Ernie Harwell in Baseball For WiNWMfs Broadcast Blast.

pl:iy-l3\-j)l;iy in;iii doesn't neccssaiilv
iniike fora had ^amc. Basi;r\i.i. Kor
W' lNDOUS is really ipiite clecent. I'd rec-
OMirnend it to aii\onc\\'lio enjossstat-
hased sinis (provided \ou gel the late.st
\ersioii w illi the hug fixes). 'F ont
I ,\Ri 'ss \ Baskium. r(.l; 1996 Eon ion is a
L|ualil\- product lhat offers not one, hut
three annoiiiieer.s, Mel Allen. L-on
Siininons.and I lankOreeimald. from
whieh to choo,se. But these products
stand on their own merits; I'd extol them
without the play-by-play men. In fact, I
nsnally turn Ihe annoiineers off, and I’d
wager lhat many gamers do likewise after
the tirst few test drives. If Ihe game is a
loser, as was [ lN'Ni',(;r,ssARY Rouci inkss
95, with its ,\l Michaels |)lav-h\-play, I
turn CA'ciything off, 'I he bottom line is
that a good announcer can't .save a hail
game.

ANNOUNCER ALTERNATIVES

Rcrlia])s the game eompanies eoulcl
lean) a le.sson fnim telcstsion. Back in
I9S0, NBC; tried a hold experiment in
spoils programming-llie aiinouncer-lcss
game. It was a late .season contest
helw cen the jets and the Dolphins (hat
had no hearing on thcplax offhunt. A
silent camera followed the action, jiicking
up file crowd, the referees, and other
ambient .souiuls that went along w ith a
pro football game in New York’s Shea
Stadium, mainlv jet planes and police
sirens. ’ 1 V graphics U|Klatc(l \icwcrs to
dow'iKind-distancc, the score, and game
statistics. There w'as no play-h\-pla\- man,
no color man, no announcer at all, A
strange concept, to be .sure, but guess
what? I lie mtiiig-s exceeded all expccta-

What do you do when it's the bottom of
the ninth, you’re a run down with two
outs and your worst hitter is standing at
the plate? Well, normally, you lose. But
in Tony LaRussa Baseball 3: 1996
Edition, you can turn any hitter into a
superhuman batting machine. Just hold

lions, coming in with a share much higher
than usual ' I here’s a message in there
somewiiere, for both telcAision and game
eompanv executives.

What w ill lui])|X'M when .software
designers wake up, smell the toast hurn-
ing, and realize llial (hev’xe ridden (he
announcer hor.se ahonl as far as it w ill go?
Wliat’s e\en sillier is pandering to the
.sound gods in Ihe audio wing of Ihe mul-
timedia temple. I low about Vii/nidSpor/.s'
I’cilk Radio? I! sour team lalls hcliiud laic
in the game soil’ll he (realcci losoiee-
oversof llie gel-a-life crowd calling for
your scalp on 'f/;c' I'ahiihnis Spo/lv Rahc
Show.

Or Vii1uaHh)ublcd /Yi/vw-eaii you
motivate Ihe big stiff for one luore big
game, and keep him fioiii flunking his
urine lest or pimcliing his wife? Pick your
approach carcfiillv. Should sou come on
strong like Mnec Uimbardi, kmcz-faiic

down the M, E, G, and A keys simulta-
neously while your team is at bat in the
"Play" or “Manage Only" mode of the
action/arcade part of the game. Once
invoked, the player will retain his "Mega-
man" status for the rest of the game,
jacking home runs out of the park, and
gloving balls all over the field. Talk about
The Natural!

like ]ohn Miickleii. or charismatic like Pal
l^ley? Choose correctly and you’ll w in (he
game and get a nesv sneaker contract.
Make the wrong call, and son’ll end up as
the a.ssistant equipment man al
Soulhwc.st Nosvherc State.

Come to think of it. with past sea.sons
and ela.ssic stadium add-ons .so popular
these (lasss, how about a Classic
Announcers module for added [leriod fla-
s'or? let’s start with a digitally re-nia,slercd
sersion of 1 loward Cosell’s nasal esiii-
clsm, grating on gamers’ ears es en from
the great beyond; hut telling it like it is,
nonetheless. If il .sells, sve’ll add Red
Barber, Curt Coss’dy, and all Ihe other
wonderful soice.s that once nairalcd the
best days of our south, but base .sadls'
mos ed on to lhat great broadcast hoolh in
the sks;

Kinally, and not so far-fclched. expect
to lie iLsing a headset before too long,
eoacliiiig your team tosictors' through
s'jKirts sinis that utilize s'oicc recognition
software. Of course, s our los ed ones arc
certain to think s ou’re insane as s ou
pace up an down in front of s our com-
pnler, dragging wires behind s ou, read-
ing piass fnim a chart, and shouting
things like "23 Zulu Right on 3,” inlo the
mike. ’Ilierc’s just Ksn things, coach.
Don’t s|)il the tobacco juice on the rug,
and remember, the plajA the thing, not
the plav-hs’-|)kis'. * 1 }

JULY 1996

■ ■ ■

GavieFan Magazine

VR Soccei^lhe best selling seccer game.

Chan Track, i<)^6

“...VR’s the game to beat-90 rating.’

GameFan, 1^96

“...better than FIFA’96-FACTr

GainePro-UK

“...the best footle game-92% rating.”

PCZone-UK

“...better than FIFA ’96-91% rating.”

PC A/iswe?y-UK

“...breakneck play-amazing graphics.”

Cyber Sports, May /June 1996

Gamers who know soccer made VR Soccer #1.

We guarantee you’ll dig it or your money back.

The difference is real:

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C 1996 Gremlin Inieraclive, Ltd. All rigtits reserved. VR Spons, THo DiKororco is Real and VR Soccer ate trademarks ol Interplay Productions. All rights reserved.
Interplay is the sols publisher and disltibulor. Licensed from and developed by Gremlin Intaractivo. Ltd. PlayStation"" and the PlayStation logo are trademarks ol
Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc. Sega and Sega Saturn are tradornarks ol SEGA ENTERPRISES. LTD. All nghls resen/eti.

All other trademarks are the property ol Ihoir tospecllva owners.

VR Soccer ’96 Is being sold under the Aclua Soccer brand name in most European markets.

SPORTS

STRATEGY • PROMT PACE SPORTS FOOTBALL PRO 96

^Check out
the CG-ROM
for a complete
walk-through
of the triple
option play.

It'iple Threat

Designing And Running The Tripie Option Play In FPS Football 96

by Paul Schuytema and Coach Kelly Kane

biillis a wonclci ful blL'iulof
brute lorcc unci chcss-likc tac-
tical skills. Often, it is ilic
coacb w lio controls the tacti-
I cal How of the game anti the
players \tho niiisl prov ide the
.sweat and initsele to turn an
Xs-and-Os drawing into a first
down. Option football is
sliglitly different, taking .some
of the chess ino\e.s away from the coach
and into the hantls of the t|narterhack,
wbo nuistniake the tactical decisions on
the field a .s|5lit-second after the snap.

/\n o|)fion pla)' is a running plav' that
nia\' evolve in several ways, with different
ball carriers, dills can be hard to defend
agaiirst, because the |jlay always begins
exiictlvthe same, and the defense has no
way of laiovving which of t he tvv 1 1 1 ir three
options will occur until the jdav ers are
already undervv av.

Iliis is fnndamcntallv difleient than in
pro tootball. where running plavs are set
betore the snajx and drop-back passing
poses the onlv real guessing game for the
defense. With a drop-back passing plav,
though, it is chieflv the receiver who must
catch and am with the bail, making him a
slightly easier target. In an option running
play, many players are involv ed in a syn-
chronized blocking attack that
.scrambles the defense if e\e-
cnled |)roperly.

FROM THE COACH'S
CLIPBOARD:

.-\.s an /Dnv.s'/on III
football coach. I\v long hcc'ii
a proponent of option fool-
hall-specifically triple aplion
fonlhall. DhPion III ivies do
not allow colleges to offer ath-
letic scholarships, so the type of
pkryer that matriculates from
year to year is constantly
changing. Option football best

accommodates the
myriad of Division
III phwers, leltinga
team he compelilive
even when the talent
isn't (jiiite as good as
the opposition.

When the talent krel
between teams is
egiial. the option
team generalh’ dom-
inates the non-
option team.

'Triple option foot-
ball's advantages
over other standard
loolball plays
include:

1. Vie ability to attack three areas of the
field as detennined by the defense's reac-
tion.

2. Greater iinoh-ement of players-the
OB. /‘71 or I IB can cany the ball on n/rv
ghen plcK.

3. /Vj; affensh'e pkry that doesn’t lunv to
be called in response to an expected
defense because, b\' design, the triple
option can take advantage of any defense.

■I. Plojvrswith great ability can totally
dominate a game, while pkpvis with less
ability can do well because the plo}’

► the ULTIMATE OPHON QB Barry Sanders, as quar-
I terback, uses the triple option to cut upfield for an
j easy first down. That's Emmitt Smith about to throw
^ a block to give Sanders even more breathing room.

GIMME THE BALL If the QB isn’t going to run in the triple
option play, he can choose to pitch the bail to the number one
halfback, who’s in motion before the snap. The QB’s stance
here shows he’s in passing mode.

depends on disciplined execution and the
defense's reaction.

5, The plo}' action passing game is out-
standing. because the defense has to
defend the triple option with eight pla\'ers,
leewing just three to defend the pass (no
double coverage).

h’ltON'l' P.W.K Sl-OltT h'OOTB.Al-L Pl«) 96
(and its predecessors) handies the
nuances of the professional am and droj)-
back |)a.ss play.s very well, but coach Kiinc
and I wanted to sec ifvvc could get the
simnlalion to handle the most complicat-
ed olfense in ail of football; the triple
opiion package.

Wc discovered that !'’PS b'00’IB,\LL
Pk(^ 96 Pko) Isn’t really set up

to handle "after the snap” dccLsion-mak-
ing, blit with a little kludging, wc did put
logetlicr a workable option offense.

SPLIT-SECOND DECISIONS

'lb make an option play work, the quar-
terback must make decisions after the ball
is snapped. In a triple option play, the
i[naricrback, fullback or halflrack can all
mil wilh the ball. Wdiogcts the ball is a
decision broken down into two parts.

A,s soon as the quarterback snaps the
l)all. he looks at the “mad kcv.” 'Ibis is an

JULY 1996

pKNTtlKjfOBjS.

'S6SFAS0N

Circle Reader Service 1154

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' you’ll he playing the Big Uoit oF hasebatt sims. it's the only game that relies oo more than stats
to put the ball io play, it also goes deep to take a look at wiod. humidity, ball spin, and bat speed on
every single swing. Graphics hit a dinger too. with ultra-realistic motion-captured 3D animation, and
camera controls that let you watch From aoywhere io all 28 big league ballparks. Theo there's the sec-
tioo where you cao slip into the body oF any active major leaguer aod show your stuFF
at pitching, hitting, and Fielding. The coolest thiog, though, is that you get to

make managerial decisions that are highly questionable. Or. possibly, pure genius.

liJanna see some amazing screen shots? Log on at http://www.sierra.com.
flOL or CompuServe. To order the game, call 1-800-757-7707.

SPORTS

STRATEGY • FRONT PACE SPORTS FOOTBALL PRO 96

iiniDlocktcl dcfciisivu player, Ivpieally file
first player outside of the tackle, often a
defensive end. 'I'he quavlcrhaek vvalehes
this player (actually just his shoulders,
since the decision must be made almost
instantl} ). If the read key twisls lo the
inside, indicating that he is going to try to
cut off the center, the quarterback makes
decision one: keep the bail and run to the
outside for now. It the read keyiserrming

in straight, then the Qb will immediatelv
hand off to the fullback for a nin up the
middle.

If the quarterback nins lo the outside, a
halfback is ninning with him, but slightly
aiicad. Now the OB looks to the "option
key,” another defensive pla\ er, generalK’
the outennost defensive player. I f the
option kev looks to cut inside, the QB will
pilch the ball lo the halfijack for a sideline
mil. I f the option key is lieading for the
sidelines, then the QB will keep the ball
and cut slighflv iasidc.

It is the.se aftcr-the-snap decisions that
FooirvlL Pitd just isn’t capable of han-
dling, 'I he solution: the player assumes
the role of QB and makes the decisions
him- or herself after the ball is snapped.

MAKING IT WORK IN THE GAME

'llie two kc\s lo creating an option
offense arc to craft the option plajs and
make sure that our option plas ers (the
QB. fullback and halfliacks) can meet the
challenge at hand.

We start by creating a formation. 'Ihe
triple option fomiation issvminetrical,
w ith a single wide-out on each side of Ihe
offensive line. Behind the QB, we ha\e a

halOiackon each side and the fullback
behind. In Foothau, Pro, we neeil lo
make sure that the fullback and QB are
not directly in line with each other, or
they’ll bump heads as .soon as Ihe ball is
snapped.

Next, we need lo set up the hclore-the-
snapmovement. You want 1 IBl logo in
molioi 1 as .soon as Ihe play is .set, n inning
lo the right. r\ e designed it .so that he .sets

back up in his stance as .soon as he gets
next lo the other I IB, but lou'il want to
snap the ball before he gels there, so it
really doesn’t matter.

Hie tricky
]iar1 comes
when you tr^’ to
craft theafter-
ihe-.snap move-
ment. 'lake a
look at the plav
editor .screen-
shot and the
logic script lo
get a feel for
whats going on.

It's im|X)rlanl
to note that
we're forcing
f'ooniM.l. Pro into mnning this play by
thinking that it’s a "check recei\ ers” pass
pkn’.'lliat means that von need lo.set your
fulibaek up as receiver one, and I IBl (the
one who goes in motion) as receiwr two.
Remember lo set each of the.se ])layei-s u|)
to look for a pa.ss after iheyTC done w ith
their moi ement, or the pigskin will just
plunk off of their helmet.

As for setting up the blocking, you can

look at coach Kane’s diagr.mi to see what
eveiy'onc is ,suppo.sed lo do. You will [irob-
abK find it easier to load a defen.se into
the [day editor to set up your blocking.
Some Irial-and-error exjjerimcnialion
between the play editor and practice field
will help you fine-tune your blocking.

Remember that Ihe rules for profe.s-
sional football aren’t as "option friendly"
as in the college game. In college football,
you can have \our offensive line scramble
ilouii the field without a penaltv, but in
the pros, an offensive lineman can’t go
more than three sards downfield on a
pa,ssing play before the pass is thrown,
'tbu’ll need to do some tweaking ifyou
notice that )ou get offensise penalties
c\ei)’ lime you gel the ball to j’our half-
back. If the (jiiarterback runs, even if he's
in passing mode, the play is a running
play, .so that rule doesn’t apply.

Ihe kevio making all this work is not
onlv making sure your Xs and Os are in
the right place, but that \our ball carriers
have the skills lo rack up the vards. If
you’re running an o])tion offeivse, 90 per-
cent ofyourplavswill be o])tionpla\'s. In
the oplioii offense I set u[), I ran about 60
percent triple option (the same [)las'), 30
percent trap option (see below ),atid ihe

rest w ere short passing plavs that I almost
alwa\s called from an audible.

FROM THE COACH'S CLIPBOARD:

'/ he ideal t\pes o/'p/mm iiecessor}’ to
eniplin’ the triple option attack are the so-
called "skill pkwrs" fQ/3, 1 IB, hB and
recehvis}. ’/ he QB should he a i^ood ath-
lete with beller-than-cnvra^e speed who is
a great decision inakei: Ihe ahilif)’ to throw

■TRIPLE OPTION RIGHT From the coach's clipboard, this diagram
shows how the play is set up when he instructs his players on the
field. The players with the darkened circles are potential ball-carriers.

JULY 1996

Is Your Computer Sound Asleep/

HERE’S YOUR WAKE-UP CALL. Yamaha WaveForce sound upgrade cards will shock your
old sound card to life like six cups of double espresso, double caff.

WaveForce upgrade cards replace the outdated music functions of your sound card. Now
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If you have a sound card with a WaveBlaster™ connector, choose the
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So get a WaveForce DB50XG or SW60XG and wake up to the way your com-
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SPORTS

STRATEGY • FRONT PACE SPORTS FOOTBALL PRO 96

HF['sB(StOptl(in(iBs

Name

Position

Yrs.

Speed

Accel.

Agil.

Stren.

Hands

Endur.

Intel.

DiSCIP.

My Rating

Barry Sanders

Marshall Faulk

82.5

David Meggett

81.75

Eric Metcalf

81.5

Steve Young

80.75

Ronnie Harmon

Dexter Carter

Brett Favre

Eric Bieniemy

74.25

Jeff Blake

Steve McNair

71.75

Jim Harbaugh

[ Heath Shuler

67.75

Elvis Grbac

62.25

j Kordell Stewart

59.5

well is Cl (hliiiilc phis but nnl an absolute
prerequisile. 'Ihe pillback imisl be quick njf
the ball and able to run through ann tack-
les. It's cren belter if he's hi" or has great
speed. I he haljbacks should be last and
capable of blocking and catching passes;
these are the plmt'is that really "streich" the
defense horizontally. 'I'he receh-ers should
be fast enough to be a deep threat and
capable oj blocking in the open field.

I’ve loiiiicl lliiil the key to miming iiii
option offense in I'bo i'iUiL I’ro is to
make siirc that sour c|iiarterl)aek is the
fastest, best limning haek|X)ssibie. It’s no
siiqirise, then, that Ihe tops in that area is
Barn' Sanders. 1 xiok to the chart to cheek
out other top NI''l.])ros|)eets for\our
option QB position,

\\diile your lialll)acks .should be fast,
your QB should probably be the best
player, .since acceleration is most impor-
tant, Remeiiiber, your QB is starting from
a dead .slop svhile both the balfirack and
fullback \s ill have a head of steam before
lhe\ gel the ball.

Since an option [>la\' is liaeked together
from a passing plav. make sure that \ our
halfliaek and fullback have the best hands
po.ssible, espeeialK’since a backivards
pass, it dropped, becomes a live ball that
the defense can pick up and run in fora
touchdown.

HiniNG THE TURF

Once your players are ready, the bur-
den is all yrnirs, II you let the computer

control this ])la)', s'on’ll be shocked to see
voiir QB gel hammered to llie turf even'
time. If you’re read}', though, you can grab
\'our jrnslick or game pad and get readv to
tear up the defense voui-self

Running this play w ell, as in real life,
takes a ton of practice. Plan to log quite a
few hours on the practice field before you
lake the play into the game,

'I he first tip is that given the micro
scale of playing football on the PC. voii
probably won’t be aide to make the first
decision (to hand to the fullback or not)
on the fly until yon get realK'good at the
finger dance. At first, just decide before
yon .snap the ball.

\\1ien \'onr pla\' is set, let your halfliaek
go in motion, and sna|j the ball before he
gels set. linmedialcK' enter pa.ssing mode
(tap Ihe B button). If you decide to get the
ball to the fullback, don’t even try to move
ymir QB-simply lap the A button to get
the ball to him. If you lime it right, it will
look like a handoff Ifs'on wait fora frac-
tion of a .second, if will be a short pa,ss. but
it .should .still work, ifs'ou wait aiw longer,
then it's a birsled plav.

If s'on’rc going to sw eep right, then
mo\e as soon as \'on snap Ihe ball, but be
sure to slay inside of \onr halfixick. 'lap
the B button again to .select ) onrlialfliack
as the targeted receiver. As yon approach
the .sidelines, make your decision based
on the defensive movement. II there’s
room inside, then keep the ball and turn
s'onrOB n])field. If the sidelines are clear.

lap ihe A key to ])iich the ball to yonr half-
back and let him tearnp the sidelines.

With practice, von should be able to
pick up a first dtrwii on nearh' even' run to
the outside. Running up the middle is
tough in luKrin \i ,i , Pro, so don’t count
on your fullback ,s]5nnling for nian\'
tonchdown.s. With proper CNeention,
thongb, yon sbonld be able to avemge
three to lour yards per carry' up the middle
w hile keeping the defense gue.ssing,

NOT IN THE PROS

While real teams would shudder at the
mere idea of running their star QB or nin-
ning back into .so much traffic plav after
play, that’s part of the fnn of being able to
do it in the sim world. While ibe defensne
players in the pros arc a vei'y talented
bunch, an effective ojrtion offen.se simpK'
spreads Ibe star defensive playei-s too thin
for them to be a factor on e\'er\' play.
When you find the holes, especially
against a computcr-cotilrolled defense
(whieh can’t adjust nearly as w ell as a
fle.sh-and-blood opponent), hammer at
them mercile,sslv. 'Ihe scoreboard will be
your nltiiiiate vindication.

Kelly Kane has been the head lootball
coach of Ihe NC/VA Division III
Monmouth (II.) iightingSeots for IZyears.
Winner <>1 niiineroiis conference champi-
onships. Coach Kane is a fenvnl supporter
oj option lootball.

You’re coach, player and owner of an NFL team.
Better kick ass if you want to protect your assets.

Coming in August for Windows 95 and DOS CD-ROM.

PHILIPS

The NFL Shield design is a registered trademark of the National Football League.

Circle Reader Service 11284

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In YoiirMinji'^ - ‘X

DENKY ATKIN • SIHULATION/SPACE

Net Gains

Fighter Duel Gets More /Ices In The Hole

it Eight
human pilots
on your tail
makes for a
whole new

game. 91

thrill in the sciit-of-lhc-ixinis living experi-
ence you gel in World Will' II planes lhal
ean’t he cliiplicaled in ihe fast jels. No
radar, no long-range missiles, no engines
lhat can hold von in the skies with no help
from the w ings. Its pilot \s, pilot combat,
and von rcallv have to know the perfor-
mance strengths— and limils— of your
plane to have a hope of succcs.S- With a
w idc variety of aircraft, including
Mu-stangs, Corsairs, /ernes, Spitfires, and
1AV-I90.S, h'lci iTlsR l)l 'i;!. isn’t a game
von’II master t|uickl\'-
'flie game does have one critical linii- the\' always boil down to tiying lo gel on
tation, ihough, lhat keeps the combat the other gii\ s tail. Once you have him in

from being as exciting as it could be: it your gunsighf, you can coneentmte cxelu-
supports oiilv modem and serial play, lim- sivcly on kcc])ing him there,
iting von lo one-on-one doglighls. Don’t Add a few more planes to the mix and

get me wrong— those can be veiy ehal- the action and strategics get mnch more
lenging and exciting. But in the long niii complicated. Planes may .sneak onto yonr

tail as you move in for
the kill. And von can fly
withawingman.who
can w atch vour rear and
keep von safe frotn
.sneak attacks. 'Ihcrc are
all sorts of other combat
tactics that come into
play with mulliple air-
craft in the skies: brack-
eting opponents, warn-
ing vour conntiymcn
when enemies move
onto their tails, and call-
ing for help when they
move onto yonrs.

Now all tlio.sc tactics
can come into play in
h’lCifn'iRL^ui'a,. using
the NIsi Diiki, add-on,
'Ibis expansion module,
created bv developer
SPCS (formerly )acger
Softw are), adds network
pla\’ to Ihe World War 11

or the past few
is,snes we’ve
been talking
about online
resources for
the fligiil sim
pilot, from
patches to
Webpages.
Wc’ll wrap up
the .series this time around, with a look at
a hot add-on that you'll find exclusively on
CC\W Web page, one that turns one of
la.sl w inter’s popular sims into a whole
newgamc-

DUEL PERSONALITY

Ibis pilot finds I’hilips' hita riKR DtiLL
lo be one of the mo-sl exciting head-to-
head flight sims out there. There’s just a

iULY 1996

DENNY ATKIN

One of the coolest features of Jane’s
Advanced Tactical Fighters is the ability
to fly any plane in the sim {90 models
total) in network mode. This allows for
some really interesting match-ups, such
as A-10 Warthogs vs, AV-OB Harriers.

Unfortunately, the designers allow you to
fly only a few planes in single-player
mode. Unless, of course, you know the
secret code...

To fly any plane in the Quick Mission
mode, hold down the right Ctrl, Alt, and
Shift keys as you click the Quick Mission
button. Then click Cancel, and repeat
the process. The second time you enter

the screen, you’ll be able to fly any
plane.

The right Ctrl-Alt-Shift combo also
works with the Play Single Mission
mode, allowing you to select any cam-
paign mission individually. Entering a
mission this way also lets you fly the
other “primary" aircraft, such as the F-
14 and Harrier.

combat sim. Now up to nine players can
mix it up in virtual furballs, fl\ ing an\-
eomhinatinn of Kiel itt;k aircraft.

’ 1 ( 11 ] won't find complex toiiniamcnl
scoring or even leaiii .setups here. 1 liis is a
basic, but extremely functional, free add-
on to bold loyal I'lc;] rn;it Diir,!, fans nbile
SPC;S works on l''lGll'I'L:itDu]'i.2. Still,
.selling lip teams is easy: ju.slchoo.se a par-
liciil.ir aircraft for each team, .such as
S|iilfircs\'.s. Hf-I09.s.

'Ihe lirst player to start Ni'i Hi 'la .
becomes the scn’cr. and gels to choo.se
Ihe realism options and starting situation,

I here are five basic .scenarios: bls ing
Circus, where cs cryonc is spread ajiarl
raudoinh'; Back to Back, which distances
all the planes lail-lo-taii; Allied Axis,
which places the aircraft in formatious a

good distance from each other; as well as
'iburnamentand'lburnament (Same
Aircraft), which spreads pla\ ers out
e(|uidi.stant from the center of Ihe combat
arena.

Once you enter combat, von can onK’
exit to change planes if you're shot clown,
if you crash, or if you laud oil the carrier
or airstrip. 'I his is to prevent jiiiots from
cheating b\' cxscaping back to the interface
when they're in danger.

As long as there arc fewer than nine
players in flight, new fliers can join at anv
time. ’Ibey 'll enter the arena a cou|)lc of
miles from the other play ers, at the av erage
altitude of all the coinbalauls. Unlike other
network flight sims, you only need one
copy of kici itt :k Di iia. to set up a network
game; the computer acting as server musl

EF2000. The campaign will be set in
a desert region, with combat over
sand and water. (I'll give DID, an out-
fit which has valued accuracy in the
past, the benefit of the doubt and
assume they won't be putting their
F-22s on aircraft carriers.) The
improved WarGen2 campaign engine
will let you plan your own missions,
instead of sticking you with fixed
waypoints.

DID is also promising improved
enemy Al, individual wingman per-
sonalities and skills, and better wing-
man control. More than eight players
can participate in network games,
and DID promises serial and modem
play will make it into the initial
release of this one,

The AWACS mode will drop you
into the role of tactical commander,
giving you the responsibility to vector
aircraft from mission to mission as
the battle rages. Could this be Navy
Strike done right?

have the CU>-BO\ 1 loaded, lint none of
the oti icr vvorkslatious need it.

You’re not just limited to plaving on the
closc.st Nov cll network, cither. Nl'f Diua.
will include the shareware version of the
Iviili software, vv hieh lets you .set up net
games over llic lulernel, W'e’ll look at flv-
ing sims via Ivili in an upcomiiig issue,
hut for now you can cheek vvAvvv'.kali.net
for information.

VIEW TO A KILL

Nl'f Duel includes another innovative
feature with lots of potential: the Net \ievv
module, Al its simplesl, Net Mew lets voii
cs.seiilially bop in the cockpit of anv Klvf
Dull aircraft as an obseiver. 'ibu can
change to any internal or external view of
the aircraft and watch the action as a pas-
sive observer.

.A more exciting, if perhaps a bit over-
board, use of this teebnoiogv is to use it to
set up a virtual eock])it environment. Set
ii|D four eompulers anniud your .seat, one
in front, one beliiiukaud one on each
side. 'I hen use Net Mew to lock llie three
extra eompulers to side and rearviews of
your aircraft. Now you can check your six
and side views the old-fashioned w av,
without using the keyboard,

Nl-:i' I.TutiL may cssentiallv be a st()|>-
gap add-on to keep us birsv while
Figi riKiL Diifa,2— with far more sopbis-
ticalecl network play ojilions— is in devel-
opment, but it Iruly breathes new life into
the sim. Nki' ITl iia . will appear on an
upcoming CG-KOM, but vou’ll find il
first (and exclusivelv) on CXAMs Web
page al http;//wvv\v.zdnet,com/gaming as
soon as it’s ready for prime time — per-
haps by the time v on read Ibis. Sj

For a while there, it looked like
every time you turned around you’d
see a new F-16 game. Now get
ready for the invasion of the F-22
Lightning il. Mission Studios looks
ready to finally release JelFighter III
in Septembet; but its carrier-based F-
22s will soon see competition from
the likes of Nova Logic, who will fol-
low Commanche 3 with an F-22
game. Also rumored to be working
on F-22 sims are Interactive Magic
and the Andy Hollis Origin Skunk
\Aforks team, although the latter is
likely quite far off.

The surprise entry in ail of this,
though, is the DID/Ocean team, who
are going to follow the modem-capa-
ble Super EF2000 Upgrade with
Lightning Strike, a game based on
the F-22 and— get this— the E-3
AWACS.

This Windows 95 sim promises

I even better-looking light-sourced, tex-
ture-mapped landscapes than

sims by combining^the
Spednjm

HoloByte, Papyrus, Virgin

and others’

Tearing up asphalt
at over 200 MPH in on alcohol
fueled, 800 horsepower road
rocket.

Crawling in rush
hour traffic behind a Yugo. In the
left lane. With its blinker on. For
the last five miles.

. . driving

system puts you in the cockpit of a
dream racing machine.

.:f.jrassivi... T2's cushioned
steering wheel won't let your
hands slip while sliding through
the chicanes. Tame the trickiest
hairpins with T2's brake pedal
and gear shift. On the straights,
blow past the world's fastest cars
when you floor T2's gas pedo/. •

. . . ■; r .. no gridlock, no
speed limits. Grab a helmet and
live your racing dreams with the ^
Formula T2 driving system from H ;•
ThrustMaster. ^

* The Need for Speed, NASCAI?^^
Virtual Karts and World Circuit f

SmULATION/SPACE

REVIEW • AH-64D LONGBOW

1 ^

i MliiHliilHif ^

Chopping Up
The Competition

Helicopter Sims Just Got k Lot More Serious

Price: $59,95
System Requirements:
IBM compatible 486 DX2-
66 Of higher (Pentium rec-
ommended), 8 MB RAM
(16 MB recommended),
MS-DOS 5,0 or higher, 36
MB hard disk space,
SVGA graphics, 2x CD-
ROM: supports Pro Audio
Spectrum, Ensoniq
SoundScape, and Sound
Blaster-compatible sound
cards.

Protection: None (CO
must be in drive)
Designer: Andy Mollis and
Origin Skunk Works
Publisher: Jane’s Combat
Simulations
Austin, TX
(800) 245-4525
Reader Service H: 329

by Denny Atkin

I misingii incic 50 feet
alxA't the gmiincl,
lliL 1 xingbow
.Apnehes .slow to a
.slop bcliind a ridge,

'nicyquicldy po]) up,

c,x])osiiig only the
mdiirs mounted atop
their rotors. Settling
aback, liicvsLiddcnlv
unleash a fur\’ of I Icllfire missiles.

/\s the missiles approacii their tar-
gets. the choppers pop back over
the ridge to lock on radar. In scc-
oiuls, Ihc CdS tank inventory' is
reduced byeiglil vehicles.

Wth its high-tech weapons sy's-
fcnis, the.'M I-64D 1 ongbow
/\|>achc is an appropriate subject
for the firsi sim from the And\'

I lollis Origin Skunk Works team.
Jank’sAI 1-640 lx)N(a!(W is as
big an advancemeiil over its heli-
copter sim predece.ssors as the
Longbow ilself isoserVletnam-
era 1 Iuc\'s.

JANE'S WAY

1 XJNGtiow is a better fit for the
Jane’s label than the fim but fanci-
ful A’l’K Ifyou'seplased that firsi
sim in the Jane’s .series, you’ll besuqrrised
at how different l,ON(;BO\Vis.I/)\c:i?()\v
simulates just one weapons system, and
does so in extreme detail, 'I’his is not your
father’s Origin simulation; if you play'cd
Strikk Cc),\iM,\Nf)i';Kand Racimc
SltUKlg it’s lime to give Origin another
chance.

'llie Al 1-641') is a twxKseat helicopter.
1,ONGBOVV drops you inloflie pilot’s seat.

► WHERE THERE'S SMOKE All of the targets in Priority Fire
Zone 2 have been destroyed, in a scene eerily reminiscent
of Desert Storm.

THERE'S FIRE Target views let you view the results of your
Longbow’s destructive power

In yourcoekpil you’ll linci two
Multi-I 'unction Displavs
(Ml'DsJ.'ibu’ll use the, sc and the
Integrated 1 lelmet .And Oisplav
Sight .System (II LADDS}, c.sscn-
liallya sophisticated lieads-up
display superimposed on a small
eye display mouiiled on your
helmet) for navigation and tar-
geting. Together these inslru-
nienls provide \ oil w ith a veiv
complete picture of the battle
environment. Ihe most useful
ML'D display is the 'liielical
Siliialioii Display (’I'SD), which
displays your waypoints, targets,
and e\en the horciers ol eneinv
lines. 'Ihercs also a radar displav
(hotli air-t(Kiirancl air-to-ground
niode,s). a 'LADS di.sjjiay fllirget
Aec|ii(.sitioii and Designation
Sight, which di.s|)lavseaiiiera
images of your locked target),
andllie ASK (Aircraft
Survivability Kquipiiient, a warn-
ing receiver that shows ground
threats around your helieoplcr).
'Ihe plethora of aeroiiyiiis alone
should indicate (he aiitiieiilicitv
of this sim.

and provides vou w itii an ,A1 eopilot/gun-
ner. 1 le’ll point out targets and threats
along the wav, priorili/e targets lor vou,
and handle eoiiiileniica.siires. (If you’re an
ultra-iealism nut, yon can turn off his
assistance, but at that point you’re doing
more work than a real. Apache |)ilol.) Von
have final .say on which targets to fire on.
tliougli.and y ou're the one who selects
(he weapons and piilLs the trigger.

ARMED AND DANGEROUS

')()iir Diiigbowisamied with a iio.se-
mounted chain giin and an assorlinent of
rockets and missiles. Stinger missiles arc
used against air targets, while I'oldiiig Kin
Aerial Rockets (KKARs) and the giin can
be ii,se<l against lightKamiored. nearbv
targets,

ihe priinary punch, though, conies
from the i xingbow’s I Icllfire missiles.

As your pulse races.

Iiisliiitl Rcpldyf’aliiir
(ram S coal angles.

ng liigliligliis

Get ready for the ride of your life with IndyCar® Racing II. It's the cutting-edge
racing simuiator that's as ciose to reai racing as a body can take. IndyCar Racing li
blows the doors off any other game in its ciass. With totally authentic handling.
Eye-popping graphics. “You are there”
stereo sound effects. And ruthlessly realistic
spinouts. With IndyCar Racing II, an officially
licensed product of IndyCar, you can race
against the professionals— or challenge a
friend via modem. Plus, you can test your
nerve on 15 heart-stopping international
race tracks. Is this cool, or what?

Gear up for the ultimate thrill. Race to your nearest software dealer this June, hit
us at http://www.sierra.com, or call 1-800-757-7707.

Crisp, clean graphics lei y.
lion ahead and hchind yon.

★ ★★★★

Conipuler Gaming World
February 1996

Winner. 1996 Best Simulallon

Winner, 1996 Best Sports Sollware

01996 Sierra On-line. Inc.® and/or designale trademarks of. or licensed to Siertii On-line, Inc. All rights reserved. Papyrus Isa trademark of Papyrus Design Group, Inc. IndyCar and helmet logo are registered trademarks o1 the Indianapolis
Motor Speedway Corporation, under exclusive license to Championship Auto Racing Teams, Incorporated. Runs on Windows 95, Macintosh and DOS. Sports Spectacular promotion at participating retailers only.

E R R A'

Cirr/p Rtsartpr .9pn//rp iffT.SS

SIMULATION/SPACE

REVIEW • AH-64D LOMCBOW

'llicscv’crsiililc niis.silc.s inne hvo firing
iiiocics (brace yourself, more iicroii\nis
iiliciicl); I /)ck On Before 1 niincli
(I .OBI ,)imcl 0)ekOn Affer [,;iiincli
f I ,OAI ,). I ,( )BI , works :is \'oird e\|5cct:
use \ t)i!r 'I ADS display lo select an
enemy, fire, and keep (lie target painted
until its toast.

Its the 1.0, -\l , mode, combined witb
the I x)n”b(nv radar, that makes this a truly
deadb' weapons sssteni, .Approach \oiir
targets from behind cover, then carefull)-
pop up just high enough to do a radar
scan. (')ncc they appear on your Mh’D,
drop back down and choose your targets,
'ibu can lock a single target, or draw a box
around a group of targets on your 'I'SD to
create a Priority lure Zone (PKZ). lure
your niis-siles and watch the countdown
timer. As it appnraches zero, bob back up
to re-lock the radar r m the targets. ' Ihc
I lellfircs will acquire their targets and
home in. If the first target in a Phy, is
de.stroycd, the next missile locks (jii to the

I xrngbow promotional films included
with l.ONXlUOW', it’s apparent how accu-
rate the targeting and firing .sequences arc.
A few features are omitted-,such as the
ability to set no-firc zones along with
Pk'Zs to avoid friendly fire kilLs-hut for Ihc
most part the avionics and firc-coniroi sv-s-
tems are modeled dead-on.

COLLECTIVE SOUL

Along with targeting information, the
helmet-mounted IlkMDDS displavalso
features a number of navigational aids.
Various modes give you the information
you need for I lovcr.'lfansition (moving
from hover to forward flight), Clruise. aiul
Bol>-l ip modes, 'ibu can switch from the
cockpit view to a full-screen II I, ADDS
dfsplav that IcLs v ou pan your helmet (and
the 'IADS sensors and gun with it); there’s
no virtual cockpit, though.

It’s good that navigation is made cas)’
with the wajpoint displays on the 'IADS
and I hlADDS, because you’ll have your
hands full just flying the
helicopter. I .ONcaiOVV has
the most sophisticated flight
model yet for a helicopter
game, and c\ cn e.\peri-
enced virtual chopjier pilots
will find .skimming the earth
with the flight model real-
ismonful! to he a real chal-
lenge. As you near the
ground the helicopter has a

► GREEN ACRES The VCR controls allow you to review missions, including the classic
“sneaking up behind the hills at night using the Pilot’s Night Vision System’’ routine.

next target, vvilh the proce.ss repeating
iinlil all Ihc niLssilcs have hit oral! the tar-
gets in the PI'/ have been dcstroved.

I lislorical missions arc flown using the
older .A1 1-6-l.A Apache, which isn’t
equipped with the l.x)[ighow radar. It docs
I lav e 1 ,( ).AI , ca|)ahilih; but for only one
target at a time, using la.scr-guidcd
I lellfircs. It also has only one Mh'D dis-
])lav, vvilh few er operating modes. I' ly it if
you're looking for an extra clialicngc.

Walcliiiig the Mci.Donndl-Doiiglas

certain buoyancy thal I've
not seen in other sinis; hut
this isn't enough to keep
vou from .slamming into the
ground ifvou’re flying at
high speed.

for optimal eonlrol,
you’ll wraiilalinininium a
joystick with a tlm)ttle w'hcel; a .separate
throttle and a set of rudder pedals is ev'cn
Ijcller, ’lire joystick acts as the iieli-
eopler’s evelie control, which ailers your
direction of movenicnf. 'Hie throttle lep-
re.sents the collective, which alters the
angle of the lx)ngbow’s rotor blades and
thus the amount of lift and thrust pro-
diieeci h)' lliem. Rudder pevlals eontvul
tile tail rotor, controlling yaw w'iien you’re
mov ing, and allowing you to change
direction in a hover.

hiving the Ixinghow in combat w ith
lull flight model realism active can he
(|niie a challenge. Cniising along at 10(10
feet at 140 knots is as easy as flying your
favorite fixed-wing sim. But that’s not this
vehicle’s element, 'lb niainlaiii stealth,
most of your missions will he flv ing con-
tour jjrofiles (about 40 feet above the sur-
face, at SO knots), or. for maximum .safet);
NOE fNa[>Of-the-Eailli) flight (around
20 feel above the surface, at 50 knots).
You’ll have to carefully coordinate your
cyclic and collective coiilrols to maintain
your .speed and altitude; climbing loo
high can be nearly as deadly as slamming
into the ground in these SAVl-iadcn .skies.

'Ihe toughest maneuver lo pull off Is
coming to a stop before a hoh-iip attack.
When you pull the Lx)ngbow ’s nose up to
slow dowTi, the helicopter climbs rapidlv;
try- to flare too quickly and v ou’il climb up
to 500 feel, e.s.seiilially screaming, "I xiok
at me! I’mabulls-eyc!"

BOOT CAMP

/Ml these acroinm-powered weapons
svstems and new flight controls may .seem
intimidating, but there’s no rca,son to
despair. lX)NGRO\\' offers an ahundanee
of adjustable realism settings. 'Ihc flight
model can be micromanaged, with tog-
gles for collective motion, ground effect,
vveiglit effect, Iranslalional life, aerobatics,
dyianiics, allilude effects, wind, and (iir-
hnlence. 'the most irseful setting for
beginners is to turn off crashes, at least
until NOE living gels easier. Wcaixins
damage, jammer realism, and ’ 1 ADS tar-
geting restrictions arc also adjiislahle.

Although v ou can turn off most of the
realism and |5lav I AS’GROW like a .sophis-
ticated arcade game, (he honorable aller-
native is lo go through the sim's Iraining
sequences. In six Iraining missions, you’ll
piogrc,ss from learning Ihc instnimcnls to
basic flight and navigation, adv ancing to
dclensivccounlcrmea.sim.-.s, sensors and
weapons sv,stcm.s, and finallv strategv and
lactics.;\n instriielor walks you through
each of these ie.ssons in a eonvineiiigly
inipaliciit, carccryXrniy voice. 'Iliis inter-
active instriiclion is by far the best tutori-
al ill any comhalsim; il riv'ais ihe cxeel-
leiil flight instruction in iM.IGI I T
UNL.IMnT':D.

JULY 1996

Developed by
Digital Integration

O 1996 Intoractive Magic

Look for Apache and Hind
Demos on our website!

www.imagicgames.com

PO Box 13491

Research Triangle Park, NC

27709

To order direct: 888-946-2442

IntroducinQ a new game from Digital Integration — developers of "Best

H I II I pv Simulation of the Year," Apache. Climb into the cockpit of the
111 Li/ most highly armored, heavily gunned and fiercely tenacious
combat gunship of the Eastern Bloc. Strap yourself into the Hind-Mi-24.

Expect the fast action and powerful 3-D visual effects that only the makers
of Apache could provide. Visual effects that make the absolute most of new
low-altitude terrain technology and advanced artificial intelligence based on
actual Russian army activity.

Experience full tilt combat, soviet style.

Unlike other helicopter flight sims. Hind incorporates
troop deployment, troop drops and pick-ups. There's
even a multiplayer feature that allows for the ultimate
mission: head-to-head combat with the Apache.

Just remember, once you get the enemy in your sites,®
lock in and fire when ready. You may not get another chance.

Circle Reader Service 11107

SIHULATION/SPACE

REVIEW • AH-64D LONGBOW

GROUNDS FOR ACTION

IX)NG150\\'’s action lakes place in three
ty]3c.s of terrain; jungle (Panama), desert
(Kuwait and Iraq), and forest (the
Polish/LJkrainian border). Obviously, each
of these reejuires different strategies. Tlic
rolling terrain, based on actual USCS ter-
rain elevation n laps, looks superb — even

better than the terrain in EklOOO at the
.same altitudes, and with far more color
variety. Tliere are plenty of hills, hangars,
fannhouses, and other structures to use
for attack cover. Unfoitunately, there’s no
foliage in .sight. Put convincing stereo
sound effects help add realism to the to[>-
notch graphics.

Vehicles look superb as
well, with detailed texture
mapping and no hint of their
polygon constniction. You’ll
encounter a wide selection
of air and ground vehicles,
including the Mi-24 Hind,
Mi-28 Havoc, and Ka-50
Hokum helicopters; tanks,
trucks, and armored person-
nel carriers; and .seemingly
every anti-aircraft vehicle in
modem service. As you’d
expect, a reference screen
offers full details on each
vehicle from the various
/ernes publications.

ORDERS, SIR

Missions are generally of three hpes:
search and desln^y, deep strike and escort.
You may be tasked with taking out air
defenses around an airfield before tioo|3-
carrying C-I30s land in one mission, or
escorting I31ackhawks on a rescue iiiissioii
to pick U)3 a stranded SEAL team.

Longbow offers an instant action
mode, single missions, and a campaign.
’^Ilicrc are also 12 historical missions,
based on actual AI-I-64A operations in
Operation fust Cause in Panama and
Operation Desert Stonn.

Hie single mission generator lets you
define characteristics, such as weadier,
time of day, and terrain, and then it ran-
domly picks an a]3pic)priate mission.
Hicrc arc hundreds of po.ssible mission
scenarios, and even if you do get a re[)eat-
cd mission, the enemy doesn’t aKs'a)'S
react the same way each time.
Redundancy shouldn’t be a problem here.

’’Hie campaign features branching mis-
sions, so you have a feeling that your

THE EVOLUTION OF

CIVILIZATION

AH-64D LONGBOW • REVIEW

actions do affect w hat s going on around
yon. Mclco interludes add to the reality,
prrniding news reports of the action, as
well as move [personal clips such as )’Our
CO bestowing promotions,

ONE KITCHEN SINK, MILSPEC

As Don I’ardo is fond of sa)ing, tliat’s
not all. iDNGBOW features a flight
recorder, a welcome feature that’s been
missing from too many recent sinis. You
won’t find fancy editing features here, ixit
you can jjlay back your missions at nonna!
or high speed, and jump in and take over
at any point. '1 Iris is great for w'atching
your targets being destroyed, and for
jumping back in the coclqjit just before a
major scrcw-U[3 to tiy' to complete the mis-
sion. 'llic second chance is good to have,
since LONGBOW' keeps track of your pilot’s
progress, promotions and medals.

Imllv configurable controls are another
nice touch. You can rema]) kes board func-
tions and save your custom keyinaps;

1 iONGHOVV even includes keyinaps that

match the command layouts of CUNSI III’
2000 and Apaci IR. Nearly anything else
you might want to adjirst in llie game —
flight model, graphic detail, weather,
enemy intelligence — is configurahle.

'^Hicre’s very little to coni))lain about
here. Multiplayer support is currently
AWOL, but 1 lollis and team plan an add-
on later this year that will piovidc network
and modem ]ilay. Some might w'ant to fly
the CP/C position, but that’s really akin to
being back-scatcr in an I'-H; the multi-
player add-on will likely add that position.
And of course, the total lack of trcelines
takes aw'ay attack o[)jiortunitics.

As with all sims, the hardware demands
are rigorous, and the 97 MB needed to |)lay
with full terrain detail might lx: prohibiti\'e
for some. Luckily, 68 MB and 36 MB installs
are av’ailable as well, and you can back down
to one of the smaller fcKJiprints tem|)orarily
if you need hard disk space without having
to reinsiall tlic game. Tlie game has a low-
res mode, but you’ll really need a local bus
DX4 system to get a smooth frame rate,

I .GNGBOW truly is tlie FaLCON of heli-
co]Dter sims, setting new standards for real-
ism and accuracy'. Despite it’s authenticity,
the adjustable realism options and superb
training mode make it one of the mo-st
accessible autlientic sims yet. Mollis and
team have made this a game beginners
can enjoy, without insulting their intelli-
gence. I lopefully' other developers — heli-
copter and fixed-wing sim alike— will use
this as a model for future simulations. %

f APPEAL: Flight sim fans of all
experience levels, as well as first-time
sim pilots looking for a good starter.
^PROS: Accurate, accessible, attrac-
tive, and action-packed. The bench-
mark by which future helicopter sims
will be compared.

►COHS:

Multiplayer fans
will have to wart
for an add-on; huge
hard-drive foot-
print; yet another
helicopter sim with
no foliage.

SID MEIER'S

CMMIOMI

THE ULTIMATE VERSION OF
THE BEST-SELLING STRATEGY GAME.

Great niinds evenwhere agree. Chilization has undergone
a dramatic transfonnation. Introducing Sid Meier’s
Civiliziition'^ 11. Build an empire to span
histoiy. But this time, liave even more
fun doing it! Create new YVbnders of
die World like Leonardo da \'inci’s
Worksliop and Sun d zu’s Wai’

Academy. Encounter new tribes like
(.he Celts, Japanese, Vikings tuid
Sioux. It’s new teclmology. New city
improvements. And new SVGA graphics.

So, if pu were challenged by die original
Sid Meier’s Civilization'-'' you belter plan youi' every’ move
caiefuUy Be(.’aase in diis game, it’s sun’ival of tlie fittest.

For IBM'-PC & Compatibles on CD-ROM.
1-8()0-879-PLLY. hltp://ii-w-w-.miero[)ros(\(:oni

SIMULATION/SPACE

REVIEW • EARTHSIECE 2

Robots Redox

Price: $59.95
System Requirements:
IBM compatible 486
DX2-66 or higher
(Pentium recommend-
ed), 8 MB RAM (16 MB
recommended),
Windows 95. 16 MB
hard disk space, SVGA,
2x CD-ROM (4x recom-
mended). mouse or joy-
stick; Windows 95-com-
patible sound cards.
Protection: None (CD
must be in drive)
Designer; Dynamix
Publisher: Sierra On-
Line
Salinas, CA
(800) 757-7707
Reader Service k 331

Graphic Facelift Aside, This Is Your father's EarthSiege

by Martin Cirulis

O ne of the lit-
tle pieiiMircs
tlmt I used to
gel fmni
coinpiiter
gamc,s was
unuT<ip[)ing
(he box,
hunkering
do\Mi on the
couch with the docinncnta-
tion, ;iikI figuring out wji;it
was what— all before boot-
ing (he game. E\ cn in this
age of .skinip\’ tiiininings on
software, \x)u can iisualh'
depend on a simiiiatinn to
provide \ ou with a tome ot
some kind — especiailv sci-
ence fiction sims, wliich
need to set the .scene in order for the plav-
erto hoist their disbelief and get into
things. Imagine mvsur])risewiien I
opened b’-AR’ll iSitT.I'; 2 (ES2), only to dis-
cover that some brighi boy from Siemi
had decided to do away w ith jraijcr docu-
mentation. It’s all on the CD, withal! the
adventure and fascination of a Windows
help file.

FIRE FIGHT No Shattered polygons here— your Cybrid foes literally blow their tops when destroyed.

► NICE LEGS Texture-mapped HERCs and rolling terrain make this
I game's play sequences look nearly as good as the video intro.

I won’t lie; this little displav of profit
optimization put me into a le.ss than
im|)artial mood, and I went into this game
kjiowing it would have to be prettv’ bloodv
good to get me to like it.

SurprisingK’ enough, it was. RareK’.

DARK SIDE OF THE MOON

/\s is the case with most .sequels, the
bad guys you
thought you put
away last lime are
back, badderthan
ever. In the original
Evitn iSii'.ca';, \ou
w ere fighting for the
last gasp of hiimanitv
oir a devastated
Isarth, against (he
seeminglv unsto[>
pable Cvbrids. Ifre.se
giant killer robots
were led b_v an evil
,-\l, Prometheu.s,who
was obviously buiil in
the "Naab, we’ll

nev er need a reset button” School of
l^ngineering, but in the end you were
finallvable to .shut it all down with the
help of your own giant Mechs (oop.s, I
mean giant "HERC^s").

Or so you thought.

it seems Prometheus had a little vacu-
um-front property up on the far side of the
Moon, and that’s where he and hi.s tin-can
cohorts have been lurking, building up
Iheir Cybrid numbers until they are ready
to come back down and kick our monkev
butts back into the trees. Lucky for us,
Prometheus seems to biow^ nothing about
physics: he could hav c saved a bundle on
1 ilsRCs and just jrelted us with lOO-meter
moon rocks until wc were nothing but
smears at the bottom of craters.

fcgardie.ss of the macho illogic of the
Cybrids, the long and the short of it is that
vou have another fight on your haiuls. so
it's back into the bunker for more video
briefitigs from good 01' General Ceirling,
who still comes across moie like vour
dotty uncle Mitch than an inspiring mili-
tary genius, Lortunatclv for us all. \ our

JULY 1996

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Circle Reader Service #290

SIMULATION/SPACE

REVIEW • EARTHSIECE 2

reflexes and wits count more tin
your CO, and j oii’ll Iiavc more
than 50 missions to prove it.

BLOOD N' RIVETS

KS2’s gameplay is essentially
unchanged from the original. Yon
ha\’c the standard mission
ty]3es— Assault, Recon, and so
on— and a squad lo follow you
through them. 1 here have been
some welcome improvements to
the control system. Wdiilc still
tricky lo get the hang of, users of
multi-button joysticks will find
this Parti iSikgi-; a hit easier to
handle. You base the re.sponsibility for
repairing and building new hlRRCsand
weapons systems (including a simply
modeled aircraft) from the scraps which
are scavenged from Cs brid wreckage.
Ihis logistic aspect is b)' far the most dis-
tinguishing feature of the game, adding a
welcome strategic facet to this fast-action
sim.

MostofESZ's changes have been in
the graphics engine, dhis game is as close
as 1 ha\'e.sccn to the promi.se of playing a
sim with the .same level of graphic detail

HERC, YOU LEAN Damaged HERCs teeter on one leg
before gratifyingly crashing on their sides.

M ost survival tricks of EarthSiege 2 are self-evident,
but it never hurts to reinforce tactics when the fate
of the Earth is at stake.

In combat you should always stay with your squad—
they’re reasonably smart, and they fight hard. Always com-
mand them to fire at will, and if you get into trouble, try
and back up and let them take the heat off you. Most fights
become turning duels if the Cybiids survive their initial
charge, so be sure to reduce your speed to half under these
conditions; it will keep you moving while allowing you, usu-
ally, to turn inside your more frantic opposition. Finally,

HERC legs are very big targets, and it almost always pays to
aim low. It's the fastest way to take down a Cybrid, and it
yields the most salvage.

Speaking of salvage, always aim to build heavier HERCs
as soon as possible. Most missions don’t require fast units,
regardless of what the briefing says, and soon you will have
your hands on the Turtjo pod that turns even the heaviest
HERC into a twinkletoes.

Lasers and Autocannons seem to have been improved
somewhat, so arm up with 5GW laseis and 100 MM
Autocannons as soon as possible— they make the perfect
accessory for the HERC who has everything. Most HERCs
are worth building and, though I have some doubts about
the Raptor II, the important thing is to get your squaddies
out of those Outlaws as soon as possible.

as llie opening animations, Cio.se up, with
detail cranked lo maximum, the I llsRCs
look Inily incredible, and the destruction
.sequences arc amazing, Gone is the irsnal
explosion of polygons we arc used lo see-
ing in giant robot games. Instead we’re
treated lo machines decapitated by horrif-
ic flaming blasts, teetering on one leg
before crashing forwurd or oiito their
.side,s. it's a real treat to sec these cinematic
effects embedded smoothly into a sim,
and there’s cnougli variety of them that it
takes a long time for one lo become hla.se
about them,

'Ihc terrain is also impRw ed with a
rolling hill look, reminiscent of MacIC
CARl’Kl'technoiogy. Wdiilc it isn’t as radi-
cal or striking as that found in TttRiu
Nova and it lacks trees (1 guess Cybrids
rcalK’ hated dog.s), it’s a \'ast improvement
o\ cr tile old version's tablctop-wilh-poK -
gon.s-strewTi-about effect, and it is s'aricd
enough that players can use the tenain to
their acK’antage, at least to a limited
degree.

LOOKS GREAT. . .LESS FILLING

'Ihc real pmhleni with F,S2 is the same
one that political pundits often jabber
about: character, Tiy as it might, this game
ncs’cr quite lo.scs its clone sencer. nierc is
wry little "feel" to this game, and manv
w ill note that for all the great images,
there is nothing that will leave a lasting
impression or hunger for EarthSiege 3.
'Ibis lack of character is exacerbated bv
the lack of a printed manual, which leaves
you feeling like \ ou’\’e bought a console
game. Other small errors, like \ideos that

somefimes don’t agree with tlie
actual mission brief, do nothing to
raise one’s morale.

'llie missions also have a con-
sole game feel lo them, in that
they seem almost too eager to
please. Most missions are over in
less than ten minutes, and most of
the battles lake |)laee within a kilo-
meter of your base, While I'm not
a big fan of endless treks through
Ihc de,scrt, there must have been a
way lo arrange these battles that
wouldn’t feel so claustrophobic
andarcadish.

Given these seeming attenqrls
lo cater to the Nintendo generation, this is
still an enjoyable, great-looking Slvsiin.
Ofcour.se the visuals are not without a
price, and I wouldn’t really recommend
fiiis game to any but the Pcntium-blc.ssed,
Science fiction fans may find things a
little empty for their tastes, but anybody
who lo\'es good-looking action games, or
w'ho just can’t get enough giant-rohof
combat, should defiirilely consider pick-
ing up a copy of I'AR'n iSiKOi': 2.

Regardless of the drawbacks, it will hel]) lo
tide you over until Mm;! iWaiuuor 3. Riil
before \'ou go off for a few hours of kick-
ing ihe can, tty and do one thing for the
good of computer gaming; write an angiy
note lo Sierra and let them know that on-
line manuals are not a trend wc want lo
sec continue. We can onl)’ hope Ihcv’ll
blame this idea on the Gyhrids and go
back to giving us our money’s worth. And
if the\’’re concerned about trees, they
.should just wrap the diamond ca.se and
manual in plastic, and do away with the
big, iisele.ss, double-walled box. %

APPEAL: MechWarrior fans looking
for new experiences, and who are less
concerned about clans than blowing
up tin cans.

PROS: Best-looking giant robot
game on the market, and the logisti-
cal aspect is a welcome addition to
the genre.

CIVIL

WAR

Illustration ^Mon Kunpi^r

Take your place in history with Robert E. Lee: Civil War General. Test your military mettle as you relive the battles
of the Civil War in this true-to-life CD-ROM game. Lead your troops through 7 historic Civil War engagements, and
enrich the experience with an in-depth multimedia presentation. Wage a campaign alone, or battle Head-To-Head
via modem. Evocative illustrations by renowned Civil War artist Mort Kunstler and re-enactment footage by award-
winning filmmaker Jay Wertz make each battle so real you can almost smell the gunpowder.

Experience the Civil War at its most exciting this Springl See your local software dealer today, hit us at
http://www.sierra.com, or call 1-800-757-7707.

> 1

1 ^

1 \

UJ 'UUji'

RTII 4 soimi

m 1

Circle Reader Service

Obliterate enemy ports
USING NAVAL WARSHIPS

Strongarm Presidents,
Prime Ministers and
Commanders

Assemble squadrons

OF LETHAL AIRCRAFT

r he battle rages on. Two opponents.

Two strategies. The year is 1941 and
the scene is the Pacific. Japanese Zeros
appear on the horizon, marking the _
beginning of World War 11. From Pearl !F
Harbor to unconditional surrender, this B
is your battlefield.

PTO II delivers the power to
control this infamous war. With new
technology, faster and better war
machines are at your disposal. Command
the guns of the mighty Missouri, launch
devastating Japanese fighter attacks, or
storm the beaches of Okinawa. India,
Australia, and the east coast of the j
United States mark new regions for *
enemy domination. Three campaigns ;|
await the most ambitious of generals i ‘

while single-ship engagements p

prepare you for more!

■ Play one of three major campaigns or
seven short scenarios
■ Set your own victory conditions
■ Execute precise military maneuvers
with over 100 unique officers '
■ Select from 120 war- >

ships, 60 fighters & |

bombers, 20 submarines, & |

10 categories of tanks
■ Intercept & decipher
enemy messages using
_ technologically advanced
weaponry

■ Command forces from 70 strategic
bases around the globe

Available now or coming soon to:

I Access biographies on WWII's most
legendary heroes

I Orchestrated game music included on CD
I One or two player excitement

KOEI Corporation

Available at your favorite retailers nationwide. 1350 Baysliore Hwy, Suile 540
Phone 415/348-0500 for additional information Burlingame, CA 94010

or to order direct. pro u is a iraderrrarx ol KOEI Corporalron

N.numlo. N niendo Errtfrralnment System, artd Iheolficial seal are Iradertrarks ol Nintendo ol A
MiCiQSOh. Mictosofl Windows, anil lire oUiwI logos are traderrurks of M.crosoN Corporatrorr,
■•5 1995, 1996 KOEI Corp , All righls reserved

Circle Reader Service #111

Mt-ROSOfT.

WlSTXJAS,

CtMMna£

TERRY COLEHAN • STRATEGY/WARGAMES

Does The End Of The Spectrum EloloByte
Brand Signal The End Of MicroProse?

“Hc'SCA'c 1 .isf lo csliiniitc llicir initml
oKicriiig needs. C>l\' II s resene list was
onc-fiftli ilic si/e of'l'oi’ CUNs and onc-
(enlli ihesi/.eefXl/VslKItOFOiyoNZ.
Speelrimi ciles efforts at promotion and
can point to sjjecific references in finan-
cial analysis reporls noting lliat Ci\' 11
was CNpeeled to be iheir tl\ bil, bnl ibe
stoics didn'l order. I'Acn when Cl\' II
began lo.sell exlremelywell (one chain
sold o\er l^Od copies iiu/.swgfc dci\'), the
reorders were relali\el\' slow' (due to rea-
sons cited in Johnny Wilsons editorial in
lire June issue). Given that the original
Cl\' sold over SSO.OOO nnii.s (not count-
ing bundling), il's hard lo understand why
Civil couldn’t get better sell-in.

WEREN’T THERE MORE STAFF CUTS
AT MICROPROSE THAN ELSEWHERE
IN SPECTRUM?

Il's true lluil the only playlesters that
w ere laid off in Ihc largely administrati\’c
cuts w ere laid off from the MicroProse
I liinl Valley facilit}; adding fuel to the
cons|iiraey ihcorists' fire. One staffer
complained, “\\i- would have understood
if Ihcy had fired all Ihe [)la\1e.sters after
Xks'iKKOi' \l,\( •.!(;, but Ci\' II was a
c|iuilil\- prodncl delivered in .spite of a
ridiciiloiis.schednle.’"ldp management
insists that ihe I Innt Valiev managers set
the .schedule. Kegarclbss. an exiimination

Why
would I try to
unplug an
asset that I
bet my entire
company to
buy? If
MicroProse
goes down, I

go with it. 99

-Gilman Louie

!► Red Alert, a Command and
ICoNQUER-style "what-if" game
[where Stalin takes on the Allies
latter WWII (wouldn’t Patton love
\this!), was originally slated as a
three-player game: two Allied
and one Soviet. Now, however, it
appears that the second Allied
role may only be available
through an add-on disk, if at all.

I ► In case you’re wondering
i where all those ex-MicroProse
i simulations designers ended up:
i several of them have migrated to
i the new east-coast branch of
i Origin’s “Skunk Works" in
j Maryland, where renowned flight
' Sim designer Andy Hollis & Co.
i plan on developing state-of-the-
j art sims.

made a mistake when Spectrum
|-id()b\tc acquired i\ licroProse. “We
should never have treated the units as
.separate brands. It made tlie w'roiig state-
mcnl.’”lb counteract this feeling of .sepa-
rateness and cifseriminalioii, llie company
announced at press time that all product-s
will now be shipped under the
MicroProse brand. Since three of the
companv’s four business uuils (Main land,
'lexHs, and the U.K.) now .ship under the
MicroProse label, it onk' makes sense to
unifyall products under the strongest
brand. Spectrum’s execs hope it w ill also
send a!ne,ssage to the three units doing
business as MieroPro.se that tire plan is to
kee|) them around.

WHAT OF RUMORS OF
MARKETING FAVORITISM?

'Ihcrc mav ha\'c been .some in the
past, but Spectrum’s marketing depart-
ment claims lhal Giv ll’srclalive unavail-
ahilitvvis-a-\'is I’opGUN was not due to
extra effort oil behalf of the latter. Rather,
the)’ claim that a sinister marketing
chnamic slurped the disparity. Retail
.stores now u.sc a nrechanism called the

ftera
recent
cost-cut-
ting move
ill which
the entire
marketing
staff, sever-
al other
administra-
tors and .sonre .support staff were laid off at
MieroProse’s llunt Valley, MD facilit)',
record numbers of MicroProse personnel
started looking for other jobs. Ka’cii after
visits h\' top Spectrum 1 lolobvte execs
Gilman l/uiieand Store IGree. the
atmo.sphere at Munt \allc)’ remained
uirscitled. Rmplovees with length)' lenuie
joekeved tor position to leas e, sounding
the refrain. “I don't w ant to he the last one
out who has to lum out the lights.”

WAS IT A CONSPIRACY?

Spectrum Chaimian Gilman I .ouie
insists that he has no intention of unplug-
ging his most experienced dirision ot
de\ elopers. 'Mien, the co-founder ol the
company went on to explain that he had

STRATEGY/WARGAMES

TERRY COLEMAN

of flic budget as acljiistcd for the layoff
shows that theiVlaiyland faeiliK' still has
.sigiiificatilK'inorcpIaytcsIers than any
other unit in the company and reports
from the testing director indicate tlial
there is a|3cn testing lime on the cm rent
schedule (counter to another minor
which su'^csts that otlier products will be
delayed due to testing capacits').

General has remained one ot the most
challenging computer wargames of all
time. If you're still having trouble blitz-
ing through North Africa or crossing the
Volga during a Russian winter, the
armored cavalry is on the way!

Peter Donnelly and Stuart Gillespie of
Skookum Software have released a
series of editors for not, only Panzer
General, but also its sequels Allied
General and Fantasy General. Unlike the

often clunky editors for many popular
DOS games, these require neither profi-
ciency with C-I--I- nor any particular
facility with hex editors. And while these
utilities aren’t “officially'’ sanctioned by
SSI, they are really nice, professional
editing tools.

PG View is an unofficial, unauthorized
saved-game viewer and editor for Panzer
General. Although it was designed to
work with the very first version of PG,
I’ve tried it with each of the patches
installed, and I’ve experienced no prob-
lems.

The more robust editor, Brass Polish,
oddly enough, works equally well with
both the DOS-based Panzer General and
Allied General, even though the latter is
Windows 95, Brass Polish has a lot of
nice "cheats," the most obvious of
which is the ability to pump up your
prestige (talk about bribing the general

BUT WHAT ABOUT THE LACK OF
MULTIPLAYER SUPPORT IN CIV II?

Speeimm I lolobyle invcnlecl llie
I'lleclronic l^attleficld Series, and miidean
early eommilmeni tomullipla}’er]riay. So,
llie lack of expected luiilliplaver .support
ill ('l\' 11 .seems indicali\e of Speetrum
exeeiifivcs’ iudifferenee to the Mierol’rose
Irrand. Ifwc belic\’e Gilman 1 xiiiie, lliis
is.sue is indicative of how ])oor tiie corn-

staff!) and lower that of your opponent.
And-for those of you with a sadistic
sense of humor-the designers were
determined not to let you monkey
around with your opponent’s e-mail
turns, sorry.

If you are getting bogged down in
France, just change the year to 1945,
and see how those pesky RAF and
French fighters stand up to jet fighters!
You can: edit supply; add transport
whenever and wherever you like; change
unit types at will; see how the
Americans fare at Anzio if you have the
edge in artillery.

Gem Polish is much the same as
Brass Polish, but is constructed to let
you take advantage of Armies of Aer, in
SSi's Fantasy General. As yet, I haven’t
figured out how to supply Mordra the
Sorceress with Tiger tanks, but that’s
about the only thing these wonderful
editors lack. Check out the CG-ROM this
issue, where the designers have provid-
ed the shareware versions of PG View.
Brass Polish and Gem Polish. As with all
shareware, you are strongly encouraged
to upgrade to the registered version.

To contact the designers:

if you have a CompuServe account,
GO SWREG and search for registration
ID 7839. If you don’t, send a check on
a U.S. bank for S12, or an equivalenf
postal money order or bank draft in
U.S. funds, to Skookum Software, 1301
Ryan Street. Victoria BC, Canada VST
4Y8. Canadian customers may pay by
check for $16 in Canadian funds.

Or contact the authors at their web-
site:

http://ourworld, compuserve.com/home-
pages/skookum

nuiniciition was between 1 lunl \allev ami
Speelriim 1 IQ.

Rxamining (he fads may well indicate
why a cons|>iraey iheorx' fs.so pievalcnl
among Microl^ro.se employees and online
fans of MicroProse prodnels:

• ’Ihc honks are in place lo insert nuil-
tiplaycr pla\’in Cl\ 11.

• Rirts of Cl\' II work under (he
CivNi:i code.

• CGWwas (old b\' (lie design (earn
that multiplayer plaj’cniild lia\e been
implemented in four weeks.

• Spectnim execuiivcs were told Iw
the management team in I lunl \'alley
that it w ould take six months and appioxi-
mately a quarter of a million dollars more
lo im])lement multipkwer pia\.

• Gilman 1 .ouie expre.ssed his w illiiig-
ness loante up SKlO.OOt) in exlra develo|>
nrent hinds if lheGl\' II design team
could give liim miillipiayer play in eiglit
w'ceks and .suggcslerl to CXIW llial lie
would then make il available free for
download on the Inlernd. Our bcsl
guess? Certain design learn members arc
iiiidcre-stimafing the task at the same time
that I lunl \'alle\- iiiaiiagersareeox Cling
their a.sse(.s by padding eslimales.

AREN'T SID MEIER AND BRIAN
REYNOLDS LEAVING MICROPROSE
TO FORM THEIR OWN COMPANY?

I'br now. Sid i.sn’1 talking, \Vh\' are we
not surprised? Sid ne\ er even admitted
.selling all of his Mierol’rose slock prior to
bill Stcaieys near-falal |)lui)ge into the
eoin-op world. Still, we lia\e eonfiniied
that Brian (dcsignerof Gi\’ II) has indeed
flown the nest (draw _\ ()iir own conelii-
sioiLs).

Will Spectrum’s changing of the irrand
name to MicroProse eonvinee both
employees and consumers that I he
MieroPmse faeilitv and eiilliire is here to
s(a\? Ilfs hard to tell. It is. at least, one cor-
rect nio\ c. as arc reeeiil allempts to iia\ e
both execs and marketing personnel on
site at I lunlV'alle) oiia more regular basis
and eonccrlcd effoiis to do more code-
sharing between all of the development
facilities, I lere’s hoping it's eiunigli. We’d
hale to sceaprimaiy'soiiieeofslraleg)’
games drv ii]x

2 CD’s

A \jMJ O

Strategy Game plus Historical Multimedia CD with CD-quality soundtrack!

"...the only strategic-level
Civil War game worth playing."
-Computer Gaming World

PC CD-ROM

Its 1861 and the nation is divided against itself. Brother
against brother. Father against son. You stand at the brink of
one of the greatest apocalypse, the American Civil War

Confederate or Union, history buff or strategic gaming fan,
with its great attention to detail and dead-on realism, American
Civil War is the choice for anyone ready to face the challenge of
refighting, and rethinking, the most devastating war in
American history.

Play American Civil War, From Sumter to Appomattox
• all the decisions are yours!

Strategy Game

^ Play the entire Civil War, Union or Confederate
- or enter the v;ar in the spring of 1862 or 1863.

W Choose from various political and military victory options.

H Recruit and organize your own Divisions, Corps, or Armies.

Bonus CD! Narrated Historioal Multimedia GD

■ Review the War through narrative text, interactive maps, color
graphics, and recordings.

■ Watch exciting video clips of recent battle reenactments.

■ Listen to the songbook including history and lyrics
representing famous songs of the period or play as a separate
audio-only CD soundtrack.

To order call: 1-888-546-2442 (Norih America only) or 919-461-0722

Look for the
AMERICAN CIVIL WAR Demo
on our web site!
www.imagicgames.com

Circle Reader Service #108
Designed by: Frank Hunter
Published Bv:

STRATEGY/WARGAM£S

REVIEW • CONQUEST OF THE HEW WORLD

Price: S49.95

System Requirements:
IBM compatible 486DX-
66 or higher, DOS 5.0
or higher, 8 MB RAM,
VESA-compatible SVGA
video card with at least
512K video RAM, 2x
CD-ROM, 8 bit sound
card (16 bit recom-
mended). Network
card, modem or serial
cable, 9600 baud or
higher modem needed
for play on multiple
computers.
# of Players: 1-6
Designers: Vince
DeNardo, Bill Fisher
and Byon Garrabrant
Publisher: Interplay
Irvine, CA
(800) 468-3775
Reader Service ft: 332

Wtorld Enough,
And Time

For Explorers And
Expansionists, This
New World Is A
Dream Come True

by Arinn Dembo

■|| tell yon \vli;il I lo\eal)(nil llic
I conipnlcr "uining indiistn-: three
I bad games can’t kill a good one.

I even if they conic out earlier.

I Cc)iVniii';s-|'()t''Tiii';NL'\v\V()iti,n
I is one such game. I was tantaii/cci
I b\' the beta I played last fall wait-
ed for months to get my hands on
I the tiiii.shed version, and now I've
I been pin ing it for two weeks
straight. I', veil si.'c months ago, it was ob\'i-
oiis that C()NQi)l''.ST was goiiig to be the
ultimate I'inirX experience: cXploration,
aXploitation, eXpansion and
eXtennination. I Infortunatclv. while I was
cagerK- awaiting Cf three lesser

games detailing the -Age of IXploration
appeared, ranging from the tedious to the
dubious to the shamefully awful. But
Inteqjlay wisely took their time releasing
Co.\yi4':s'i; and now that it has arrived,
it's ri.sen .serenely above the eompetition,
by nailing down the basics, fleshing out
the details and .serv-
ing lip a heap of frills
on the side, hishorl.
b\ taking the time to
do it right.

WELCOME TO THE
WORLD

CoNODits'r begins
when vour. ship first
touches the shores of
a new land. On
board, \()u carry three
Mxplorers and an
annv.Afcw turns

► colonial power Conquest has numerous strengths as a game, including its robust
I colony building, exploration, diplomacy and trading aspects,

later, a second shi]) arrives, earn ing a
Settler, another army and an Kxplorcr.

’Ihe tw o ships, thiee l’'.\p!()iers. two amiies
and one .settler arc all von will ev er get
from yoiir Mother Cx)iinti-v...that is,
besides requests for laxe.s, Iroiibic, and
marked-iip merehandise. 'ibii are vulnera-
ble at first, since there’s no going borne.
.And if your first Settler unit is destroved
before you can create vour first Coloiiv.

► age of discovery Conquest has a vwonderful take on explo-
■ ration; by awarding points for discoveries of natural wonders, it
makes exploration fun and relevant.

your dreams of empire in Ihe New World
are finished.

C'.ai 1 icpiav' is divided between five basic
priorities: e.x])loring the world; e.slahlishing
and defending colonics; desfroyingeiie-
inies and raiding vv'caker selllemenls;

I iniiMl;iii ling diplomatic relations with
other players, the mother eonnliy and the
natives; and opening up trade routes. 'Ibis
is |)iellv iiiiieh old iial lorslrategvgaifier.s.
hut what makes CoNgiii:s'i' different is
the way liilei])!ay re-invenled Ihe e\)ilo-
ralion a,spect.

CNW makes exploration more inter-
esting. fun and relevant hv creating a vari-
ety of geographical lcalurc.s on ev erv map
and allaehiiig vietoT\- points to their dis-
cover)'. So, if v'ou’re the first pli)'er to
eliiiih to ihe top of a moimlain, voii get to
give it a name and collect points for being
Ihe lirst one there. IDitto if voii trace a river
from della to hcaclwalers, with .s|Deeial
boiuLses tor charting larger regions or
entire mountain ranges. 'ibii can rack up a
.siirprisiiig lead over your opponents just

JULY 1996

«BF

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t.Whal

Islheltloi

nest level

Dl education lhal

S. Howotteni

do you usually buy computer games?

Name

CGW

7/96-4

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Oi.DIBMMiiVlelstan^^^

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03. □486
04.0386
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drone only)
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store 04. □ Computer store Cham

01. Strategy

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03. Role (haying

05, Card

06. Span

07, Aclion/Arcade

06. Educeliotrni

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STRATE6Y/WARGAMES

REVIEW • CONQUEST OF THE NEW WORLD

by being n good c<!rf<igr;i])her.

And speaking ol (lie map. il .slails onl
black and becomes a slunniiigclLsplavof
lopography.'nic graphics for ibis game
are Ireaiitifiil. and vou can zoom in to
V lew the details of the landscape or
colonics. CN’W is certainly one of the
bc.st-looki!igstrateg\- games I’s'c ever seen,
and wins a hands-down v icloiy in the
C-oole.st’lerrain categorv.

GUNS AND BUHER

or course, onee yon're done looking
around, its lime to get down to work. No
mailer how yon go about w inning the
game — and belic\'c me. there are a mil-
lion w ass to do it — \oii ha\ e to build and
dev elop colonies. As vou hunt through ail
that loveK terrain, w hat vou're realiv look-

level as quiekiv as po.ssihle. and gives
hoiurses to milifaiv units when he builds a
I'iirl anil War College. 'Ihc ’lav cm is
w here you go to reeniit new Ivxplorers, so
the belter the pub. the better the e.\plor-
er.s..\nollieres.senfial is the Caannieree
huilding beeau.se il allows vour colonv to
make their own linished goods out of the
raw materials ihev’ve harvested, a veiv
vital eapahitily, if von ever w ant to declare
indepeiidenee from the Motherland.

Building a network of seltleincnis is
fairly sim|)le. Wlial’s aeliiaiiy more cliffi-
cnlt is defending lho.se colonies onee
yon've built them. 'Hie com]Juler isnith-
le.ss and always eager to lake out v our
colonies. ( )nce you suffer vour first brutal
allaek, vou'll lind vou can lo.se an awful lot
in a single raid.

► pawns on a chessboard if there is one complaint, it's the limited battlefield,
which is little more than a 3x4 grid. There isn’t much room to maneuver here,

ing for i.s a nice flat plain at the fool of a
monnlaiii. preferabKwillia river ninning
clown to the sea and some good thick
woods elo.se by, I'br a prosperous colony,

)oiril need timber, metals, gold, crops,
and plenlv' of level land for buildings.

'Ihcrc arc a dozen different tvpcs of
structures to be built in any given eoloiiv.

I'lven the simplest, lowest-level eolonv
needs to have a Colonv Center, fauns,
timber mills, housing, metal mines, a gold
mine, a cloek/lrading post, and a ebnreb.

A vv ise governor will make sure that he
builds the Colonv Center to its maximum

'lb me. the combat svstem
in Cc).\QUi;.S’i is lhcweake.sl
part of the game.. Ml land
attacks are rc.solveci on a 3x4,
two-dimensional battlefield.

’I 'here are only three t\]5e.sof
milifarv units— infanlrv, caval-
rv; aiidai lillen — and they can
only move and allaek Iiorizon-
tallv’ or verlicallv', never diago-
nally. faclors that affect com-
bat are: (he militarv leaders vou
recrnil and train, the number
of units Ibev eaiK'on inland;
the uiimbcT of attacks tiicv get
per round; the charisma ibev
use on their own men; and the
fear (hey instill in their ene-
mies. 'Iliere arc also additional
factors in the combat cqua-
lion: the tactics you can Icani
at W'ar Colleges; (he lev el of the Forts the
Itoop.scome from; and how experienced
vonnmils are. 'Iliere are even bonu.ses for
nanking. ehargiiig, and eomhiiiecl-arms
w hen vonnnen fire on the enemy (i.e.
when iiifaiiliy, eavaliy and artilleiy units
all attack one sc|uare in tandem).

IHtimalely, though, iheexlremelv’ limit-
ed nainre of the battlefield is a .severe di.s-
advanlage loliiiinan pla\ers..\l! these
atleuipls to enrich lhecoml).il .svstem are
reduced to mere niiinher-ernnehingbv
the (ic-tac-loe arena ofballle. I mean,
bow exciting can battle be when vou onlv

have a s.\4 grid to maneuver in? 'I he
graphics and .sound are aw fnllv cool, of
course, .so it isn't complelelvnnheanihle;
hut if you have a lot of fighting to do
against the computer (e.speei;illv ifvou’ic
the I ligh Native player), you should defi-
nilely attack and defeiicl vvilhoveivvhelm-
inglyma.ssivclorces,

THE SUM OF THE PARTS

De.spilc the weakiie.sses in ihecoinlial
.system, C( )NOl HiST luis a great deal to
recommend il, Il siipiiorts up to six plaveis
and encourages social gaming w ilh excel-
lent hooks tor networking, modem [)lav
and .serial port eoiineelions. It’s a great
game to plav against other |)eople, and
the more the merrier! Not onlv does il
handle the tnrn-ba.sed plav exlremelv well,
bill the game aeliially awards points ba-seci
on how quickly the [ilayers complete (heir
turns; if.soine slow poke in the network is
dragging down the game. iheyH he
docked points, whereas people who move
quickly are aw arded a few extra vietorv
points for ending (lieir linns eariv.

Flayers have eoiiliol over Iheii vieloiy
conditions and e;iii chose to he one of five
Fiiripean powers or a I ligh Native civi-
lization, Civeii the nelvvoi king, the ini.x-
and-maleh vieloiy conditions, and the
random map generation, the l eplav v alue
on this title is veiy high. I’ve logged over
60 lioiirs on the game. 20 of those on net-
work play, and liaveiTl gotten tired of il
vel. C-NW'gels lilgli marks lorslvle.versa-
filily, and leelinieal pcrforiiianee — not a
single lock-iip or cr.i.sli in all llie hours I
played it. I reeonimeiul il to all I'biirX
fans, and anyone w ifli world enough and
time to appreciate a w ell-made game. %

APPEAL Strategy fans looking for a
deep and enjoyable Age of Exploration
game will be in seventh heaven here.
PROS Gorgeous graphics, supports six
players on network or modem, extreme-
ly cool exploration
system, beautiful
graphics, high
replay value.

CONS Combat sys-
tem seems over-sim-
plified.

THE ULTIMATE BATTLE

When you’re flying the best combat simulator,
only the best controls will do...

When you’re flying “Back to Baghdad,” only|
the best controls will do. Bring it back home
with the ThrustIVIaster F-16 FLCS*, F-16,TQS
and Rudder Control System. ThrustMaster’s
F-16 flight controls are specifically designed
to compliment the “Back to Baghdad” flight
model.

* F-16 FLCS Required for the F-16 TQS to Function

Circle Reader Service U129

Mill T A tt Y SI M IJ L A T I 0 IV I \ (I .
5910 N.E. 82nd Avenue Vancouver, WA. 98662
PHONE (360)254-2000 FAX (360)254-1746
World Wide Web: HTTP://www.mMitary-sim.com

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the chaflwge?

STRATEGY/WARGAMES

REVIEW • RISE AND RULE OF ANCIENT EMPIRES

Price: $54.95
System Requirements:
IBM compatible 486-33
or better, 8 MB RAM,
SVGA graphics, 2x CD-
ROM drive, 20 MB hard
drive space, Windows
3.1 or Win 95; sup-
ports most major
sound cards.
# of Players: 1-6
Protection: None (CD
must be in drive)
Designer: Gregor
Koomey
Publisher: Sierra On-
Line

Bellevue, WA
(800) 757-7707
Reader Service if: 333

Repeating History

Building Empires isn’t As Fun In This World

by Martin E. Cirulis

I rciili/c that \vith.so
nian\’ new .soft-
ware titles l)ciiig
procliieed esers’
montli, by an ever
iiiereasing number
ofgatning conipa-
nie,s, lliereaie
linuitcl lobe a few
lille,sihal — liow
shall wc say— overlaj). in
terms ot'llicir.snbject mat-
ter and execution. Wliilc
this isn’t too rare in a genre
like sims, it is .somewhat
more unusual when s oil
enter the realm of strategv
games, where concept is "
almost c\er\thing, I am al\\a\s ,surpri.sed
when a game like ’1 HIS Mfiws \V-\ld is
released during the height of COMMWn
cV CoNQUf:K’s popularih', [Did somebods-
actualK’ think that |)eople were so hiingrx'
lor point-ii-cliek, real-time wargames that
the\’‘d .shell oul for another game that did
the .same thing as the last one, except
w ilhout the fun part? Well, now, riding the
skirts of ChV'll 2 comes Sierra’s

enlr\’into the ancient empire-building
calegoiy: Kist: AND Rhi.i: oI' Ancihnt
llAl)’IKi';.s,/\nd, while it is not a terrible
game by any standard, it still fails to re-
invent the genre, and the word "redun-
dant" keeps coming to mind.

DIFFERENT FOR DIFFERENCE SAKE

I don’t cn\y the designers of R&R at all.
Morn the start, they had to know it was
going to be a tougli road, because de.sigir-
ing an empire builder of fliis kind, e\ en if
they didn’t plan on going past the birth of
Rome, never mind .Alpha Centauri,
would invite endless comparisons to
Ch\ ii.i/.vi i()N, In try ing to find a road to
success all their own, SieiTa has charted a
gameplav course somewhere between

FAMILIAR TERRITORY Sierra’s answer to Civilization is a watered-down version of
the great original, with multiplayer options and a more limited timeframe.

computer Cl\’and the old .Avalon Mill
classic Af)\:\\ctiD Cl\1l.i/.vnc)N. In a. situ-
ation like this, where circumstances drive
you to be different to avoid being accused
of cloning, a lot of design calls
get made that mav not be the
best thing.

ReA-R has settled on (he
beginnings of the classic hi.s-
torical empires (C)reeee,

Mgvpt, \'ie,snpotamia and
Chiira, plus the highly Iheo-
rctical irrelusion of the C^clts),
centered on a map that
inckrdes all of Murope, North
Africa, and the Middle Ma-st,

\Miile the computer is more
lharr capable of generating a
non-Marth chunk of terraiir, it
does give you an idea of scale
w hen the computer ])lirr)k.svou and three
other empires down in roughlyo|)])o.site
comers.

Now the opening move vv ill seem pret-
tv' farrtiliar to most of us, bceau.se vou start
the game with — guc.ss what? A lone
.Settler unit! Des folks, it’s time to tinhileh
those beasts of burden anil plunk down

the first city of
vour grand, ahem,
eivilizatiirn! Now,
on the .surface it
looks like much
the same game.
Build a eilv; build
some military
units to explore,
do sonte research,
build some infra-
stnicturc. We’ve
.seen this one
befttre, but to be
fair, the difference
is in the details,
and at an opera-
tional level, RA-R

is a tnireh different game than CiN'.’Ihe
basic |)lan seems bent towards the
abstraction of the more timc<onsuming
details of Ci\’ in order to create a fastcr-

BAYSIDE PROPERTY City management in Rise and Rule
is very simple, with a visual representation of your city
and sliders to convey all pertinent information.

moving game lhal allows voir to corieen-
Iraleort gnitid empires instead ofworrving
aboirl budgeting issites, Itr fact, there’s no
ntoney at all in RcAll
'linrr entire empire Ls run on a citv-by-
city basis, with lire management sa . stern
based on four .slider bars that represent the
pereentages of the population vv ho are

More than 20 tutoriol modules, froin
beginner to odvonced, help you
improve your gome.

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D S C A P E

STRATEGY/WARGAMES

REVIEW • RISE AHD RULE OF ANCIENT EMPIRES

involved in lian’csting food, researching
new know'ledge, building new units or
structures, and gathering resources for
empire building. In a way, this is very rern-
iniscent of Sl’ACFAV'\RD Mo! You maintain
)'our empire b)' balancing these bars to
yield optimal growth and construction
potential, while still allowing your city to
gain knowledge that will lead to new
structures and units, dhosc of you waiting
for a whole new w'orld of discovery' and
invention branches are going to be disap-
pointed, though. Like the economy, the
w'holc area of science and discovery' is
dealt with in an abstract way, with slider
bars. You just click on the academy build-
ing on the city display, and adjust what

► HELLO, NEIGHBOR One thing going for Rise and Rule is mul-
I tiplayer options. The game is also abstract enough to be
I played quickly with friends.

► WHERE'S THE TECH? One area where R&R falls flat is science
which is too abstract and doesn’t yield enough advances aside
I facelifts.

percentage of your research is going into
the five disciplines of Sage, Engineering,
Medical, Martial and General
Kirowledge. 1 he only real reward for
piLshing your knowledge to the limit is an
ability to create a single racial Wonder of
the World to proclaim your genius. Once
again, efficient— but more than a little
cli>-.

Combat is relatively stiaightforward.
There are only a handful of units to
choose from: infantry' of three weight
classes, archers, light and heavy cavalry',
and catapults- The only difference from
the old days of tile-vcrsus-tilc ClV fighting
is that you can stack units together and
thus create armies. Opposing annies can

cidier figlit to edermination or ravage
each other without any clear winner,
destroying many of the com]aonent units
on one or both sides. A nice toucli here is
that annies are expected to forage for food
when they are not in town consuming
your stockpiles, and annies from cities
built in a certain terrain type will forage
better in those areas.

All in all, R&R does seems to be dedi-
cated to a concept of quicker, more
ab-stract empire building— in fact, the box
claims you can play an entire game in one
sitting.

Unfortunately, the
designers, apparently
caught up in the
urge to be different
for the sake of being
different, have
clouded this simplic-
ity with details
which, while they
arc generally inter-
esting, tend to clash
with and destroy
much of the flow of
the game. Tlic
designers abstracted
new discoveries into
slider bars and better
buildings, but went
ahead and forced

players to create a finely tuned ncKvork of
Philoso|)hcrs to carry knowledge back
and forth from city to city, iastead of hav-
ing one general pool of knowledge. For
that nratter, why make infrastiaicturc-
building more complex by making
philosophers and military' units build
roads instead of settlers?

In try'ing to simplify the game, but then
going back on their intentions and adding
siperfluous detail, the designers have
managed to create a |)roduct with none of
the fascinating details of Civil .ization,
but which retains almost half of the tedi-
um. Tire simplifying of gameplay isn’t
enough to justify the draining of character

from this title.

CIV-LITE

RiSF AND
Rule tries to be
a quick and
enjoyable game
of cmpirc-build-
ing and conquest, and succeeds on half of
that score. It’s fairly ideal for tliose who arc
more interested in crafting an empire
without hav'ing to worry' about w'hat fields
to [)lowand how much the upkec|3 on a
new aqueduct is. ' 1 he multi-play'cr mode
is quite effective and the entire game is
very' stable, making it perfect for net-play.
Unfortunately, there is no spawning-tech-
nology' here (like with WarcilaeiTI) to
entice players to jDarticipate in a group
game first before buying their ow'n co]3y'
to play at home. This onc-CD-|)er-player
philosophy may hav'c been an error, in a
game witliout a lot of excitement to lec-
ominend it to social gamers.

Once you leave your gleaming cities in
I^SF. AND Rule, the game starts to break
down and becomes both loo simple and
too tedious to hold the attention of the
average gamer. There are [plenty of nice
touches, but early on somebody should
have made the decision whether this
game w'as meant to challenge CiV' at its
ovv'n level of detail, or go the quick-and-
dirty route, like a historical Sfacew'ARID
Ho! Sadly, in try'ing to do both, lllSI:; /Vs’D
Rule achieves neither, and becomes yet
another strategy near-mi.ss from Sierra. In
a universe with ClvNi:!' or CiviLi/ATlON
II, what is the point? %

APPEAL Those who would like to try
a quicker, more abstract alternative to

ClVIUZAJION.

PROS A simpler, bug-free version of
CivNet with great animations and
sounds along with a few interesting
twists on the theme. ,

COHS Rise & Rule
abstracts all the fun
parts of empire-build-
ing and adds too |
many superfluous I
and tedious details. I

JULY 1996

Jenner as your coach!

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e Practice in single events, one by one, or start and
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m Assume the role of one of eight competing athletes from
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Ki Bruce Jenner, the World Champion Decathlete, appears
as your "on-line" coach, providing hints and tips on
how to excel throughout the game.

Look for the DECATHLON Demo
on our web site!
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DA LLAS
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Published By;

To order call: 1-888-446-2440 (North America only) or 919-461-0722

O 1996 Interactive Magic

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STRATEGY/WARGAMES

REVIEW • VIKINGS

pgpi

I ilisO,

Price: S39.99
System Requirements;

PC: IBM compatible
486-33 or better, 8 MB
RAM, SVGA graphics,
2x CD-ROM drive, 15
MB hard drive space,
Windows 3.1 or 95.
mouse; supports
Sound Blaster compati-
ble sound cards;
Macintosh: Mac OS 7.1
or better, 68040 or
PowerMac, 8 MB RAM,
12 MB hard drive
space.
§ of Players: 1
Protection: None (CD
must be in drive)
Designer: Random
Games
Publisher: GT
Interactive
New York, NY
(800) 610-GTIS
Reader Service if: 334

Norse Play

Vikings Revisits RPGs Of Yore, With Disastrous Resutts

by Tim Carter

luivc ;il\vay,s l)ccii .siispidoiis of
g<iinc.s\vifli nonsensical lille.s,
VlKIN'CS: 'i’l IK STIWI'KGV OI'
lh;i immk; CoNQUi'S'iconfirnicd
in\’ lon^-hekl .suspicion that game
names twi vcflcct the quality of
the final product. Despite having
ihe words “strategj’,” ‘■iiltimate,”
and "conquest," and one of histo-
ry’s mo.st .sueee.ssful luilitarv cul-
tures. llic title it.sclfdocsn’t c|uite make
sense. Sadly, the .same can he .Sihd for the
game, as \s’ell.

'lb l)cgin with, Vikings, from C I '
Interactive, has the worst documentation
l'\ c e\ cr seen, 'i he 20 page booklet in the
CO case provides onlv the barest descri])-
tion of game mechanics and interface.

'I here is no real explanation of the combat
svstem, the wav trading w orks, or even
how to outfit expeditions. Kven the
read.mc file is inadequate, containing
only two paragraplrs, both about installa-
tion, a no-hraincr amxvay; since this is a
W indows and Mae game.

I'brtun.itelv, much of the game can be
worked out through trial and error, but this
doesn’t com])ensate for the complete lack
of guidance. It’s all well and good to talk
about w orld conc|iie.sl in ihe introduction,
but ]5la\ers are nev er giv en a coherent
explanation of w hat they mirst do to win.
As it Ls, one is left to wander the woiid pil-
laging and plundering w ith little .sease of
direction.

A SUNKEN SHIP

So what about the game it,self?'lb be
fair, 1 like the concept. Ihiising an armv
and .sailing off to plunder a largely unex-
plored world could l)e a lot of fun. The
designers hav e tried to add dej}th bv’ cieat-
ing a system which leans quite a hit on
role-playing and adventure features—
siicli as progio.ssive skills for kc)' leaders
and sideline quests for powerful objects.
Games like X-CoM have shown how suc-

cc-ssful this formula can he, and I liave
nothing against mixing genres if the out-
come is an enjovable and challenging
product.

'let, for all of its conceptual potential.
Vikings fails to deliver. Manv of llie con-
cepts bom)wed from role-plaving games
do not add to ihe gaming experience, and
.some are downright annoving. 'Ihe game
often .seems to have abducted the worst
aspects of RPGs from four or fiv e years
ago and forced them into the confines of
asiralegv' game.

All of the cities look more or le,ss
alike (there are four or five basic
cityscapes), and each offers virtual-
ly the sameoptioirs.'lhis miglit
have been okay if tlie options
theiusclves vv cren’t so mindles.slv’
tedious. I 'or instance, tlie tavern
stocked with a (lirtatious harmaid,
a bartender that gives tlie news,
and a besotted stoiyteller who can
provide lips about various magical
w eapons is .so irritatingly cliche I
found myselfdreading every new
visit. Moreover, Ihe dialogue itself

is pretty load. ’’Hie bannaid talks in adoles-
cent innuendo, while thestoriesarc— to
use a technical writer’s term — pure dreek.
'lb make matters worse, the fast-forwaKi
button that sits just below the story text
doesn’t even work.

'lb a degree, Ihe problems vv ith the
towns arc .symptomatic of Ihe way the
entire game has been designed. Not
unlike many bad RPG’s, Vikings contains
a lot of make-work chores intended to
keep the gamer busy, 'tbu end up pillaging

[ FAMILIAR FACES Remember the barmaid from
Pirates? Well, Vikings has the same juvenile dia-
logue, canned character interaction and some bor-
ing role-playing elements.

for (lie sake of pillaging as much as to fur-
ther a larger set of goals.

THEY SURE DON'T FIGHT
LIKE VIKINGS

'ITiis would not be a problem if tiie act
of pillaging was a little more exciting.
UnforliinatcK; the battles are too simple
to lend themselves to tactical planning or
challenge. Essentially, w inning is a ques-

tion of building a sufficiently
well-ec|uippcd and well-led
avmvand then pointing it in
the light direction. 'lliere
arc only three Kpes of eon i-
batants, and your army may
only comprise fivegroujis of
99 .soldiers each.
l'’urlhemiore, each group
may only contain one hpe
of soldier.

'llie hand-to-hand com-
bat is even worse. An inadc-
(luate and ob.solete arcade
sec|uence is not explained \er\' well in the
manual, and I was never able to swing my
characters weapon effectively, 'llie
instructions gi\en for doing so are incor-
rect. So. I just av oided hand-to-hand
combat whenever ! could.

Vikings' bad gameplav is unfortunate
when vou consider the inherent potential
of this game. A militarv and economic
simulator that offered vou the choice

VIKIHCS • REVIEW

between pliiuclering for pirifit or cx])and-
iiigv'our empire might have been both
fun and challenging. Sadly, ViKiNGS turns
out to be neither. Itplavslikea I9S7 role-
playing game w ith a larger party and over-
simplified strateg)' elements.

I Imloubtcdly, this game would have
looked good 10 years ago. But, today, this
tviie of boring gameplav' just looks old,
canned and cliche. S

>•

l-U

APPEAL Gamers looking for some
simple pillaging, or those waxing for a
less fun, Scandinavian alternative to
the old, seafaring classic Pirates.

PROS Didn’t crash.

CONS Doesn't work
role-playing elements
gy elements are hor-
rendously simple.
Dialogue and game-
play too simple and
juvenile. Combat is
over-simplified, and
documentation is
woefully inadequata

as a package;
are horing; strate-

y R&G GAMES H

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gginK cte In originol boi olth nriglml ilixuirNititiw

CallforcurrenMitleavailibility

1 - 800 - 377-8578

FOR ORDERS ONLY- ^

-9 Mon-Saf, 12-5 Sun

loney Orders/Casims f/ii

'Cnlllgtiiih

leday.SS UPS/S9 2nd Day Air

mmasiumim&im

To Sell Us orMake l^ulries Coll:

1 - 800 - 514-2637

l2‘6jMon-FriCST
In Canqrio, (all 695*339*3060
call for d^MlnliOribato or
ftX ibl fe f ^Bgjq u iilttlp ^^331-8766

limhde youTietinitidicis i UXno.l
GAMER'S GOLD • ID08 W. dlsi Strsel • Sioux Foils • Soulh DqIioIq • S7I0S

hint books

AVWIABIT
ST and UP

Got Something To Sell?

Follow these Easy Steps

ire □ list of the games you ore sailing, Coll, fox, or
ir list to OAMOt'S OMD.

1. Prepare □ list of the games you ore
mail your list to GAMCII'S OOID.

2. GAMER'S GOtP will quote the current buying
prices & i5sue_cin authorization number for your shipment.
Games will not be occepfed without on autborizotion no.
Price quotes ofo good for 14 days.

3. Pock gomes in box. Write authorizatf^ no. clearly on
outside of box. Moil to .GAMER'S COED. Save your
authorizotion no. We can't answer questions about your
shipment without your numberl

4. If you would liha to useyour money or credit topurchase
gomes, include a "wish list'- of tides you are interested in.

5. Vour chock will usuoHy be mailed within 10-14 working
days of receiving your games. Some 'wish list" gome
credits may take dighdy lorrger to fill.

Games will be checked for viruses & completeness.
Games must be comfdefe with dl disks, printed moteriols,
& in original box. Incomplete gomes will be returned at
your expense. We do not accept 5.25" disk games.

PRINCE OF PERSIA!
PRIVATEER

PRIVATEER SPEECttPW
PROTDSTAR
QOESTFOR GLORYS
QUEST FOR GORYG-Vt

REALMS OF ARKANIA. BIAOE
RETURN OF THE PHANTOM
RETURN TOZORK
REUNION
RINGWORIO
RISE OF THE TRIAD
ROAD TO THE FINAL FOUR
ROBINSON'S REOUIEU
ROMANCE OF3KINGDOMS
RCME PATHWAY TO POWER
RULES OF ENGAGEMENT

SEARCH FOR THE KING
SECRr OF SILVER BLADES
SHADOW Of YSERBIUS
SHERLOCK HOLMES

RA AWARD WINNERS

SiMCiTYEOOO GREATDISAS

SIM TOWER-WIN

SPEAfl OF DESTINY

STARC0MIR012
STAR CRUSADER
STAR TRAIL

STAR TREK 25TH ANNIVERS
ST«I TREK-JUDGEMENT

STREETFIGHTER?

IS- WARGAME CONST

TERMINATOR!: CHESS
TERMINATOR RAMPAGE
TERMIttATDR!: ARCADE

riE FIGHTER: OEf OF EMPIRE
riOEfiS ON THE PROWL
rONY LARUSSA BASEBALL
NY lARUSSA ULTIMATE BB

TREASURES SAVAGE FRONT
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EHPACK

ULTIMAUNDERWORLDt
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ULTRAiOlS

UNLIMITED ADVENTURES
UNNATURAL SELECTION
VViaORY: UTAH BEACH
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VEHE

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WAXWORKS
WESTERN FHONI
WHEN TWO WORlOSWAfl

WINGCOMMANOERAOD'ONS CALL

WWILO CIRCUIT
WORLD SERIES OF POKER
WW!' AIRFORCE COHMAN
X-COMTERROROFIHE DEEP

Prices & availability
subject to change. Call
Toll Free for current
titles and those not
listed-we've got lots
more! All Used Games
are complete & virus
free with original box,
documentation <5 disks.
System compatibility is
not guaranteed. All sales
are final-defective
games replaced with
same title.

Free shipping (Regular
Ground) in the
continental USA on
orders over $150.

Circle Reader Service 1193

Grid witii words going across

You have the POUUER. In this contest you don't rely on the luck-of-the Media Rig Contest The Ultimate Gaming Environment, 40 inch monitor,
draw. You determine if you win or not You win by outscoring others In a game of 130 watt receiver w/ Dolby Pro Logic Surround Sound, and all components shown,
skill. Can you solve the puzzle below? Then you have what it takes. It looks simple, Win DSS Satellite Receiver as a BONUS OPTION! This rig will blow you away!!
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iS'lTSm mdSranTmmi Mure- Hiere will lie lour more puzzles at $2.00 each and one tie-

HUM, 17 monrtor, modem and more, b^gai^er at Sjm which will be sent to you by mail. You will have 3 weeks to solve
hi-tech cutting edge with this line-up: each puzzle. We don't know how many will play but typically 55% will have the
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Computer Contest Win a blazing fast computer with Pentium 166 Mhz

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Video Game Contest Play on tl

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trade the ones you don't want for CASH! Bonus options include; 33 inch monitor, toPhase iV. The tie-breaker detennines the wnner. If players are still tied diey will
$1,000 in games, cash, accessories and morel • • >

— s

W y

Yes!

WORD LIST and LETTER CODE chart

PINCH W PRESS K BLAST A WRECK D

BREAK Z PUNCH S SPRAY C TURBO V

STOMP T STAND R PRESS E DREAM, ..,0

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WORLD RULERS HAVE IT AND IN THIS CONTEST YOU HAVE IT

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ENTER ME TODAY, HERE’S MY ENTRY FEE:

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□ ($3.00) Video Game Contest
n ($3.00) Media Rig Contest

□ ($5.00) SPECIAL! Enter them all (SAVE $4.00)

SEND CASH, M.O., OR CHECK TO: ^

PANDEMONIUM, P.O. BOX 26247
MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55426-0247

VOID WHERE PROHIBITED • ENTRY DEADLINE: POSTMARKED BYAug.lJTH, 1935 • ENTRY PEE MUST 8E INCLUDED
Only one entry per cerson. Eraployees of Pandemonium, Inc. Slid its suppliers are ineligible. Judges decisions er ’ '

Circle Reader Service ^173

1*800*UNITED4

1*800*864*8334

htlpif/wn.uniledcdroni.coiii

PC Game Pad
Joystick

by Advanced Gravis
A Nintendo-style controller
with 4 selectMjle fire but-
tons fi removable joystick
handle, $4 E

15774 1 O

Majestic Parti

by Pimnba Interactive
Unravel the mystery
behind Majestic's voy-
age. She set sail from
Eailh's harbor & never
returned.

I Machine

)y Advanced Gravis
Includes WWF Wreslling,
the Gravis Multiport S
Gravis Grip Pads,

\ by Acclaim

Role playing, murder
mystery game. Piece

Ihe murder at LA National
Hospital, $y| 4
47793

I Don't Quit Your Day Job

I by Philips New Media
I As a new talent scout for
I "The Johnny K. Show'

I your guest choices will
[make or break your
career. $^<9

49504 WW

iRevolutionX

\oy Acclaim

I Music is the weapon! Use
CD bombs, secret pas-
sages & power-ups to
free Aerosmilh from Ihe

41136 aD

Totat Mayhem

by Domaik

The Cyborg Mayhem
Soldiers wage a liberation
war against machines in
this multiplayer nehvork
ganie. $OQ

49729 wO

I First Aid 95

I by Cybermedia
\ Fixes your Windows 3.1
I & Windows 95 problems
[automatically by detecl-
[ing & correcling software
'conflicts. $04

151064 01

First Akl 95

Password Master

by International Systems
The fast sale S easy way
to store, protects recall all
of your account informa-
Ijon, passwords & other

[Sportster U.34

I by US Robotics
External 28.8 data/lax.
Free Internet Connection
Kit. SAVE OVER S50
OFF THE CATALOG

r ®i83

[Bridgemaster

[Championship

I by Intracorp

I by Interactive Magic
The best helicopter simu-
lation around. StunningSD
visual elfects & 60 play
[levels lor the hard-core
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40565 44

teaching modes, easy-
to-read graphics S print-
ing options,

36322

[High School 6 Pack

I by Solsource
[includes Pro One Term
[paper Abridged Edition,
[ Pro One Algebra 1, Pro
[ One Grammar li & more!

i Links LS

by Access

This legends in Spons"
version features Arnold
Palmer at Lalrobe Country
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[Rebel Runner

I by MIcrolorum MIg.
it's kill Of be killed as you
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your planet from doom.
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[Max Comes to Earth

I byMenl Sofhvare Studios
Dozens of inferactive S
realistic 3D scenes prompt
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situations as they learn
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Middle School 6 Pack

IllljB by So/source

Includes Pro One Middle
i School Math, Webster's

m Concise Encyclopedia,

Pro One Grammar I &

W morel $4 0

' 48902 1 £

I Game Master 10 Pack

by Solsource
' Includes Riveiboat Poker,
Personal Companion Star
Aces, Riverboat Blackjack,
I Flair Rally Alleys more!

Jeopardy

by Graphix Zone
Most realistic Jeopardy!
game ever, with more
than 6000 questions -
you supply the answers!

Complete Kid’s Pack

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Includes: Malli Ace, Word
City, Mario's Time Machine,
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47092

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Marathon 2 Durandal

I by Bungle

I Now for the PC! Just when
you thought it was sale for
space travel.,.those pesky,
evil, blood-thirsty aliens
are back! $>| O
47051

iRayman
by lib; Soft

Enler the challenging
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Digizine #2

by Ahrens Interactive

It's a magazine, TV,

radio, an art gallery & a
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51606 /

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by Readysoft
‘Become Ihe valiant
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Circle Reader Service iri9J

media wave

11th Hour $ 47

3D Pinball $ 38

A102: Silent Hunter S 44

AcesofDeep2 S 42

Apache S 43

Buried in Time $ 25

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Bad Mojo S 39

Breach 3 $ 39

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Civilization 2

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Master Lu

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Descent 2

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Shivers

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Exploration

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o siirchiirpes on credit card orders, C.O.D. add $5.()() extra. Relunis ^

quire authorization# and are .subject to 15% reslockinji fee. Ship|iing
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Circle Reader Serwce 1172

They promised you

Hut you got a slide show.

It’s time for a new system

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Trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Optional equipment pictured,

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Circle Reader Service >>92

FOUR ADULT CDs - Only

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Circle Reader Service #99

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‘TOKYO
NYMPHS’

Totally hot
Asian women
in an action
packed sex
test. All
around you
these sex
starved women fight for tease and
please their shared boyfriend.
They give new meaning to the
word “insatiable'’. CD S16

‘CYBER PHO-
TOGRAPHER’

After entering the
MacDaddy cyber-
studio choose
from 3 different
models. Choose
lighting, camera
lens, music and
start on your photographic adventure snapping
a roll of 36 exposure fim. When you finish choos-
ing your favorite pictures print out a calendar,
birthday card or Christmas cardi CD S49

'VIRTUAL
SEX SHOOT’
Imagine being
transported to
a mysterious
island and
having nearly
infinite possi-
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create your own visual fantasy by
controlling cameras that are capturing
every intense moment of highly
charged erotic sex. CD $44

'ROMSOFT 6 PACK' Double Down, Doors of
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ground. Enjoy these liUes; The Bartow Affairs,
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European Models. 6 CD’S $44

search for the secret passageway that leads
to Uie vampire's private chamber. Your
actions determine the outcome, but beware
of ttiings that go bump in the night! CD $39

INTERACTIVE

Buster Cherry $45
Casting Couch $44
Chameleons $39
Club Cyberlesque $29
Come Play w/ Me $36
Crystal Fantasy $29
Cyber PholgrapherS39
CyberPeep Int $19
CyberSlrip Poker $36
CyberXperience $44
Cyberpeep2 Nurse $24
Designer Bodies $36
Desktop Mistress $49
Desktop Voyeur 1 $49
Dirty Debutantes 2 $39
Diva X $38

Dream Machine 2 $49
Electric Swing $29
Encyclopdia ol Sex$49
Eros 2 $32

Fantasy After Dark $35
Fun House $39
Girllriend Teri $39
Girlfriend Tracy $39
Golden Wrds Sex $24
Heidi's House $33
Hollywood Bod Dbl$44
Hot Slots $37

Hump Towers $39
Interact Symre Bt 2849
Interact Seymre Bt $39
Interact SexThrpy $46
Internall Strip Pokr $22
Intimate Journey $24
Intimate Possbits $39
Island Girt Resort $39
Japan Interactive $44
Ladies Club Poker $26
Latex $44

Love Pyramid $29
Luscious Ldy Lngri $24
Lust Connection $39
Maddams Family $29
Make Yr Own Orgy$32
Midnight Stranger $45
Mind Teazzer $29
Mind Teazzer 2 $32

Mustang Interact $42
Mystik Mistress $36
Net Erolique $29
Neurodancer $39
Nice & Hard
Nick Steele P.l.

Night Owl 20
Nightwalch Int 2
Nighlwatch Int 3 $49

Oriental Ecst Exp. $44
Penetration $19
Penthouse lA 2 $44

Penthouse lA 3 $59

Penthouse lA 4 $59

Penthouse lA 5 $69

Penthouse lA 6 $52

Penthouse Interact $59
Pleasure Zones $33

$32

$29

$39

INTERACTIVE

Sex Castle $29
Sexy Sports Trivia $19
Sorority House $34
Space Sirens 1 8i2 $29
Spread-Em $34
Spy Club $39

Strip Black Jack $44
Strip Poker Pro 2 $36
Strip Tease $24

TeresaMayTchPlay $44
Texas Table Dance$24
The Passion $39
Time Warp $52
Vampire's Kiss $36
Virtual Director $39
Virtual Golden Eye $44
Virtual Sex 1&2 $39

Virtual Sex Shoot $44
Virtual Valerie 2 $36
Virtual Vibrations $8
Virtual Vixens $24
Virtually Yours 2 $39

Virtually Yours $38
Wander Lust $44
Whafs Your Name $34
Wheel ol Fantasy $26
Winner Takes All $39
You're the Director $39

MOTION

101 Orient Delts 2 $19
101 Sex Positns 2 $24
Adult Movie Atmnc $49
Adventure Kid $22
AdventSnatchman $39
Affairs of Heart $24
All Night Long $19
Amateur Models 4 $28
American Blond $24
AmorusAsia Giri2 $22
Anthony’s Desire $19
Ashlyn Gere RIts 2 $24
Asia X $27

Babe Patrol $19
Bad Girls 2 $24

Bangkok Nights $24
Bedman & Thrbbin $16
Beyond Explicit $28
Black Book $34
Blond Justice 325
BodyCelo Six Pack$49
Bra Busting Babes $25
Bustin’ Through $24
California CalendarS29
California Girls $9
Centerfold CvrGlrlsS24
College Girls 2 $24

Condo Curies $19
Crazy w/the Heal 3S24
Day Dreams $25
Deep Thrt Gris 4Pk$49
Demon School $22
Dirty Oeblnt 6 Pk $44
Doors ol Passion 2S26
Endlessly

$24

$26

MOTION

Fantasies 2 $26

Fantsy Lilestyle 2 $19
Fatal Temptation $19
Girls Doin’ Girts 2 $26
Glamor Girls 2 $24

Hidden Obsession $25
Home Front $30
Hot Dog Gri FlordaS19
HotWired $26

Indiscretion $29

Insatiable $24

Justine $39

Kinky Debutante 2 $32
La Blue Girl 3 $22

Legend 4 $16

Legends of Porn 2 $19
Lethal Passions $26
Lelhal Pasions $26
Little Irresislablo
Love Bites
Model Wife $24
Models. Etc. $19
Mystique Orient 2 $24
Naked Reunion $24
Natural Instinct $18
Naughty But Nice $24
New Lovers $24
New Machine 6 Pk$42
Nova Collection 5 $19
Oriental Action $26
Passion Files $16
Platinum Six Pack $42
Private Collection $48
Romsott Six Pk 2 $39
Savannah SuperstrS24
Secret Garden 2 $19

Seductions $24

Sex Foot Slut Pack$59
Sex Games $24
Sexual Instinct $26
Sexy Nurses 2 $25

Seymore Six PackS39
Sin 95 $44

Sinfully Yours $19
Tokyo Nymphs $16
Ufotsukidoji Pit Col$48
Virgins Vol 3 $39

Voices in My Bed $24

STILLS

Asian Pearls 2 $28

Celebrity Nudes $25
Domin-A-Trix $19
Elite Amer Modls2 $19
Elite Ctrtld Modls2 $24
Erotic Playground$2e
Heavenly Bodies 6 $39
Japanese Pearls $28
Secret Treas Japn $17

3D0 ADULT

Blond Justice
Love Bites
Neurodancer
Sex

$29

‘DREAM
MACHINE 2’ A
conspiracy has
subverted tech-
nology, enforc-
ing absolute
restrictions on
all sexual
expression. You
are mankind’s
only hope for
sexual libera-
tion. CD S49

‘CRYSTAL
FANTASY’
Venture through
the cave of lust
and find the
secret crystal.
Interact with the
sexiest young
jewels of the
MacDaddy harem. Take snapshots of the
girls and play with them in your own pri-
vate portfolio. Six highly interactive, three
dimensional gorgeous babes! CD $39

eVAUTrEs"

What’s behind
iSl the headlines of

Hi> Tabloid

* J Beauties? See

> • 16 bodacious

beauties bare
their hard bodies
in more than 500 hot. wet, interactive nude
photos. Hear the girls reveal their most inti-
mate secrets in over an hour and a half of
lusty interactive phone conversations. CD $22

•ALL NIGHT
LONG' Over a
thousand ail orig-
inal never before

A I n published

T ■ ^ . images. All full

screen, ail full
color, all different
images. Beautiful
women and couples engaging in explicit sex
captured on the sets of over 50 adult motion
pictures. Viewer with thumbnail menu and
slide show feature! CDS16

‘ROMSOFT 3 PAK’ Captured
Elegance, Penetration and She's So
Sleazy combine to make this 3 pak
HOT. HOT, HOT! 3 CD’s $29

‘VAMPIRE'S

Poker Party

$45

Exposure

$24

Porn Mania

$49

Doors ol Passion 2$26

through the corn-

Porno Poker

$44

Endlessly

$24

Cheating

$19

dors of the vam-

Private Prison

$44

Enter the Night

$19

Passion

529

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elcome to the Cooperstown of Computer Games. Here,
raised upon pedestals, you'll find the games that broke

the records, established the benchmarks, and held gamers in
delighted trances for hours untold.

►

INDUCTION CEREHONY!

X-COM

MicroProse,

1994

C ei

ertainly, gaming products from
^Europe have had success on
^Ihese shores, but the greatest hits
^of recent years were

puzzle/action affairs, such as Magic Carpet or
Lemmings. Who would have believed, especially given the subject
matter-bug-eyed monsters with zap guns-thal the Brits could corner the
more cerebral market of turn-based strategy games?

X-COM arrived totally unheralded, and many gamers figured that it would be
a mere rehash of Laser Squao. Certainly, concepts like hidden movement and
opportunity fire have been around for ages, yet rarely have they been so well
employed in a man-to-man tactical combat game. Soldiers statistics improved
with time-provided they survived-adding a welcome element of role-playing.
The alien opponents were creepy, challenging, and on the higher levels,
downright merciless. The insidious mind-control ol the alien leaders drove
more than one gamer to psi-frustratlon, and the horror of watching
Chryssalids transform members of your squad to aliens gave more than one
X-COM commander nightmares.

The strategic shell was surprisingly robust, as you were forced to balance
economic and political concerns in order to field your X-COM operatives and
defend Earth's nations. Researching exotic alien technologies recalled the

joys of Civilization, while the variety of weaponry could keep any space

ist,

marine ferreting out Sectoids from UFOs until well into the 21^1 century. X-
COM is a great game which proves that pushing the technological envelope
is often less important than stoking
the gamer's competitive fire.

TIE FIGHTER

Lucasarts, 1994

H ''

ineteen years ago, George Lucas
opened our eyes to new galaxies
I far, far away. Ever since then, the
I Star Wars saga of a small
Rebellion struggling against a merciless
Empire has captured our collective imagination.

While several games have attempted to transport us into the fiery battles of
the Star Wars universe, none was more successful than TIE Fighter. Project
leaders Lawrence Holland and Edward Kilham designed the game with an
authentic Star Wars atmosphere, a strong storyline that expanded on the evil
Empire, and a rousing space simulator. Players discovered what it was like to
be a TIE Fighter pilot and experienced the power of the Empire's evil propa-
ganda machine. We became a party to its nefarious pursuits, ensuring its
survival with our brilliant piloting skills. We even flew escort for the dreaded
Dark Jedi himself, Darth Vader.

In addition to excellent graphics and nicely animated cut-scenes, TIE
Fighter's gameplay was superb. You could fly up to five different Imperial
spacecraft in the extensive Campaign Game, dogfighting with X-Wings,
Frigates and myriad Rebel craft in a host of progressively difficult missions.
The missions were challenging and logical, fitting nicely into the storyline,
and the enemy pilots were intelligent, tough foes. There are few space sims
with a combination of great gameplay, plot and atmosphere, but TIE Fighter
stands out even among this elite company. For a true Star Wars experience,
there is only one game worthy of the Emperor's favor: TIE Fighter.

^Inductees

Prior To 1989

Bahle Chess (Interplay Productions, 1988)
Chbssmaster (The Software Toolworks, 1986)
Dungeon Master (FTL Software, 1987)

Earl Weaver Baseball (Electronic Arts, 1986)
Empire (Interstel, 1978)

F-19 Stealth Fighter (MicroProse, 1988)
Gehysburg: The Turning Point (SSI, 1986)
Kampfghuppe (Strategic Simulations, 1985)
Mech Brigade (Strategic Simulations, 1985)
Might & Magic (New World Computing, 1986)
M.U.L.E. (Electronic Arts, 1983)

Pirates (MicroProse, 1987)

SimCity (Maxis, 1987)

Starflight (Electronic Arts, 1986)

The Bard’s Tale (Electronic Arts, 1985)

Ultima ill (Origin Systems, 1983)

Ultima IV (Origin Systems, 1985)

War in Russia (Strategic Simulations, 1984)
Wasteland (Interplay Productions. 1986)
Wizardry (Sir-Tech Software. 1981)

ZoHK (Infocom, 1981)

Alone in the Dark

(l-Motion, 1992)

M-1 Tank Platoon

(MicroProse, 1989)

Betrayal At Krondor
(Dynamix, 1993)

Master of Orion

(MicroProse, 1993)

Oat of the Tentacee

(Dynamix, 1993)

Railroad Tycoon
(MicroProse, 1990)

Doom

(id Software, 1993)

Red Baron

(Dynamix, 1990)

Falcon 3.0

(Spectmm HoloByte, 1991)

Sid Meier’s Civilization

(MicroProse, 1991}

Front Pace Sports Footbali Pro

(Dynamix, 1993)

Their Finest Hour

(LucasArts, 1989)

Gunship

(MicroProse, 1989)

The Secret of Monkey Isund

(LucasArts, 1990)

Harpoon

(Three-Sixty Pacific, 1989)

Ultima VI

(Origin Systems, 1990)

King’s Quest V

(Sierra On-Line, 1990)

Ultima Underworld

(Origin Systems, 1992)

Lemmings

(Psygnosis, 1991)

Wing Commander I & 11
(Origin Systems, 1990-91)

Links 386 Pro

(Access Software. 1992)

Wolfenstein 3-D
(id Software, 1992)

JULY 1996

PATCHES

Computer game programs have grown so massive and the
number of hardware configurations has become so huge that
incompatibilities and glitches are frustratingly common.

Absolute Zero VI. 04 Update:

Fixes crash bug (ound in version
1.0.3, and corrects some minor
bugs in the following missions;
Attack on Aegis 2, Attack on Aegis
3, and Hammer and Anvil 2.

Allied General VI. 1 Update
for Windows/Windows 95;

Fixes numerous bugs.

Anvil of Dawn VI. 1 Update:

Fixes crashes, several graphics
problems, armor rating malfunc-
tion, and corrects the problem with
entering Gorge Keep from the
northern entrance and getting stuck
when the portcullis is shut.

Battleground: Gettysburg
V1.02 Upgrade: Incorporates
various fixes and upgrades game to
v1.02. Install instructions are found
in the Install Note Text file
(BGGSETURTXT).

CivNetV1.03 Update: Fixes
the "Cannot write to AUX" error.
Refer to the PATCH.TXT file for
installation instructions.

Hardball 5 V5.12 Update:

Updates stats lor the end of the
1995 season. Rosters updated to
the end of January 1996.

Descent II Update: Contains
the configuration file for the
Thrustmaster FLCS (w/o TQS or
WCS) from the DESCENT !1
Interactive Demo. This file was acci-
dentally omitted from the full ver-
sion of DESCENT 11.

Heroes of Might and Magic
DOS V1.2 Update: Improves
compatibility with certain sound
and memory configurations.
Resolves dialing problems with cer-
tain modems.

IndyCar Racing II Update:

Enhances online/modem play and
adds time acceleration to the game.

MechWarrior II GIDDI for
DOS Update: Fixes reported joy-
stick problems.

NBA Live '96 Update: Latest
update with new rosters, including
Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson
and Charles Barkley.

NHL Hockey Update: Fixes
numerous technical problems.

Civilization 2 V1.06: Fixes Al
damaged from earlier patches. Also
cleans up multimedia glitches and
other annoying bugs.

Front Page Sports Football
Pro 96 vi.oi: Updates game to
version 1.01. Fixes various techni-
cal issues.

Ripper VI. 02 Update:

Corrects problems with the WAC
and notebook, fixes display prob-
lems with the Matrox Millenium
video card and other known bugs.

Software fixes, or “patches,” for buggy programs have become
a necessary evil until we reach the golden age of standardized
platforms and bug-free programs.

Unneccesary Roughness '96
Update: Fixes sound and video
problems.

Wing Commander IV Update:

Fixes (he 16-bit SVGA palette prob-
lem found with video cards using
the S3 Vision 968 chipset and the
IBM RGB524 RAMDAC. Fixes prob-
lems in using Hercules Graphite
Terminator Pro 64 PCI and the STB
Velocity PCI cards.

New Patcbes are on
\ ;i| ika conr diok.

SENet

Warcraft II Vl.O Update:

Fixes final color randomizing bug.
Exorcism crash and system specific
problems, Vl.O also includes a
map editor update, WAR2KALI
patch and the unregistered share-
ware version of KALI.

These patches can usually be
downloaded from the major on-
line networks (CompuServe.
GEnie, ZDNet) and Computer
Gaming World’s Web Site
(http://www.zdnet.com/gaming),
but can also be obtained from
individual software publisher’s
BBSes or direct from the publish-
er with proof of purchase.

NASCAR Racing V1.21:

Updates NASCAR Racing to v1.21.
Addresses many issues including
computer opponents being affected
by damage.

Panthers In The Shadows

VI. 14: Fixes all known bugs
including the artillery bug. Copy the
file into your Panthers subdirectory,
type ‘'PS-114'’ and overwrite the old
tiles with the new ones.

Terra Nova Update: Fixes the
problem with the Random Scenario
Builder, which crashed the game if
used four times consecutively.

Publisher Websites

Many of these patches are available directly from the publishers, at the
foiiowing sites;

Accolade :hltp://www.accolatle.com

Activision: htlp://www.activision.com

ApogeeOd Realms: http://www,apogee1.com

Bethesda: htlp;//www.bethsoft.com

Blizzard: hltp:l/www.blizzard.com/tech.htm

Bullfrog; http:/lwww.ea.com/bullfrog.html

Domark: hltp:t/www.domark,com

EA: htlp:(/www.ea.com(tech.html

Interactive Magic: htlp://www,imagicgames.comlgames.hlml

Interplay: hltp://www.interplay.com

Looking Glass: hltp:/lwww.vle.com(lgttutilily.html

LucasArts: htlp://www.lucasarts.com

Mi c r 0 P r 0 s e : hltp://www.microprose.com/mpsfiles.hlml

Microsoft: http:(lwww.microsofl.com

Mindscape: hltp://www.mindscape,com

New World Computing: http:/twww.nwcompuling.com

Ocean: hltp;t/www.ef2000.com

Origin: htlp://www.ea.com/origln.english/index.hlml

Papyrus: http://www,sierra,com

Philips: http://spider.media.philips.com(media/games

Sierra On-Line: hltp:/twww,slerra.com

Spectrum HoloByte: hltp;(/vw«w.trek.microprose.com/shtiles,html

SSI: liltp:/lwww.cmact.com/ghole/ssl.hlm

Take 2: http:/lwestol.corn/~takelwo/ripper.html#palches

Virgin: hltp://www.vie.com)html(viesupport.html

THE COMPUTER GAMING POLL • A MONTHLY SURVEY OF THE READERS OF COMPUTER GAMING

You’ve read our take on the latest games, now here's a chance to see what your tellow gamers think. The CG Top 100 is a monthly
tally of game ratings provided by our readers. Approximately 50 games are rated each monlh, and the results are added to the aggre-
gate results from past months. This historical database serves as a terrific reference for what you, the gamers, feel are the best plays in
gaming. (Starling this monlh, the Poll ballots will be mailed to a different group of randomly chosen subscribers each monlh.)

TOP ACTION GAMES

Crusaden No Remorse

Origin

9,95

Marathon 2

Bungle

9.85

DOOM II

id Software

9.77

Dark Forces

LucasArts

9.70

Virtual Pool

Interplay

9.52

Magic Carpet

Electronic Arts

9.48

System Shock

Origin

9.19

TerraHova: Strike Force Centaur!

Virgin

9.14

The Need For Speed

Electronic Arts

9.12

Heretic

id Software

9,08

\ TOP ADVENTURE GAMES

Gabriel Knight 2

Sierra

9.97

Full Throttle

LucasArts

9.44

Woodruff 8i Schnibble

Sierra

9,28

Mission Critical

Legend

9.22

Relentless

Electronic Arts

9,12

Ecstatica

Psygnosis

9.09

Under A Killing Moon

Access

9.04

Legend of Kyrandia 3

VirginAVestwood

8.94

Riddle of Master Lu

Sanctuary Woods

8,94

■

Star Trek: TNG, Rnal Unity

Spectrum HoioByte

8.75

V _ TOP CLASSIC/PUZZLE GAMES

You Don’t Know Jack

Berkeley Systems

9.01

Incredible Toons

Dynamix

8.86

Incredible Machine 2

Sierra

8,85

Monopoly

VirginAVestwood

8.73

Ciockwerx

Spectrum Holobyte

8.25

Hodj n’ Podj

Virgin Interactive

8.16

Shanghai-Great Moments

Activision

7.75

Connections

Discovery Channel

7.56

Lemmings 3D

Psygnosis

7.50

Lemmings Chronicles

Psygnosis

7,47

i TOP SIMULATION/SPACE COMBAT GAMES

......

Wing Commander 3

Origin

10.57

Wing Commander IV

Origin

10.33

MechWarrior 2

Activision

10,05

NASCAR Racing

Papyrus

10,01

U.S. Marine Fighters

Electronic Arts

9.76

U.S. Navy Fighters

Electronic Arts

9.60

Wings of Glory

Origin

9.56

Flight Unlimited

Looking Glass

9.51

EF2000

Ocean

9.48

LJg_

Aces of the Deep

Dynamix

9.38

NBA Live ‘95
NHL Heekey

Front Page Sports Football 95 Sierra
FPS Football Pro 96
PGA Tour Golf 486
Front Page Sports Baseball
Hardball 4
Hardball 5

9 Tony LaRussa 3

10 NFL Pro League

EA Sports

9,86

EA Sports

9,70

Sierra

9,64

Sierra

9.19

EA Sports

8.93

Dynamix

8.76

Accolade

8,70

Accolade

8,36

Stormfront Studios

8.12

IBM

8,01

Warcraft II

2 Command & Conquer

3 Jagged Alliance

4 Heroes of Might & Magic

5 Master of Magic

6 Warcraft

7 X'COM: Terror from the Deep

8 Vtbriords II Deluxe

9 Transport Tycoon

10 1830

Blizzard '10.50

VirginAVestwood 10,00

Sir-Tech 9,81

New World Computing 9.77
MicroProse 9.66

Blizzard 9.64

MicroProse 9,38

SSG 9.27

MicroProse 8.94

Avalon Hill 8.72

TOP ROLE PLAYING GAMES

■^1

Might 8i Magic: Clouds of Keen

New World Computing

9.07

Anvil of Dawn

New World Computing

9.04

Ravenloft: Stone Prophet

SSI

8.98

Wolf

Sanctuary Woods

8.64

Stonekeep

Interplay

8,44

Menzoberranzan

SSI

8.26

Mordor

TDA

8,00

Dark Sun: Wake of the Ravager

SSI

7,64

Thunderscape

SSI

7,63

Druid

Sir-Tech

7.00

TOP WARGAMES

Panzer General

SSI

10,46

Steel Panthers

SSI

10,36

Rise of the West

RAW

9.63

Flight Commander 2 Mission Bldr Avalon Hill

9.48

Battleground: Gettysburg

Talonsoft

9.47

Stalingrad

Avalon Hill

9,38

Flight Commander 2

Avalon Hill

9.35

Custer's Last Command

Incredible Simulation

9.12

Perfect General II

QQP

8.96

Ljl

Allied General

SSI

8.81

TOP 100 CAHES

Reader Poll #142

k 1

Wing Commander 3

Origin

10.57

Sr2

Warcratt II

Blizzanj

10,50

Panzer General

SSI

10.46

Steel Panthers

SSI

10.36

Wing Commander IV

Origin

10.33

MechWarrior 2

Activision

10.05

NASCAR Racing

Papyrus

10,01

Command & Conquer

Virgin/Westwood

10,00

k 9

Gabriel Knight 2

Sierra

9,97

Crusader: No Remorse

Origin

9,95

k 11

NBA Live '95

EA Sports

9,86

Marathon 2

Bungle

9.85

Jagged Alliance

Sir-Tech

9.81

DOOM li

id Software

9.77

Heroes of Might & Magic

New World Computing

9.77

U.S. Marine Fighters

Electronic Arts

9.76

NHL Hockey

EA Sports

9.70

Dark Forces

LucasArls

9,70

Master of Magic

MicroProse

9.66

Front Page Sports Football 95

Sierra

9.64

Warcraft

Blizzard

9.64

Rise of the West

RAW

9.63

U.S. Navy Fighters

Electronic Arts

9.60

Wings of Glory

Origin

9.56

Virtual Pool

Interplay

9.52

Flight Unlimited

Looking Glass

9.51

EF2000

Ocean

9.48

Flight Commander 2 Mission Bldr Avalon Mill

9,48

Magic Carpet

Electronic Arts

9.48

Battleground: Gettysburg

Talonsott

9.47

Full Throttle

LucasArts

9,44

Stalingrad

Avalon Hill

9,38

X'COM; Terror from the Deep

MicroProse

9.38

Aces of the Deep

Dynamix

9,38

Flight Commander 2

Avalon Hill

9,35

Woodruff & Schnibble

Sierra

9.28

Warlords II Deluxe

SS6

9.27

Mission Critical

Legend

9,22

System Shock

Origin

9.19

FPS Football Pro 96

Sierra

9.19

TerraNova: Strike Force Centauri

i Virgin

9,14

Custer’s Last Command

incredible Simulation

9,12

The Need For Speed

Electronic Arts

9,12

Relentless

Electronic Arts

9,12

Ecstatica

Psygnosis

9.09

Heretic

Id Software

9.08

Might & Magic: Clouds of Keen

New World Computing

9,07

Hexen

Raven Software

9,04

Under A Killing Moon

Access

9.04

Anvil of Dawn

New World Computing

9.04

A- 51

You Don’t Know Jack

Berkeley Systems

9,01

Raventoft; Stone Prophet

SSI

8,98

Perfect General II

OOP

8.96

Riddle of Master Lu

Sanctuary Woods

8.94

Legend of Kyrandia 3

VirginAVestwood

8,94

Transport Tycoon

MicroProse

8.94

PGA Tour Golf 486

EA Sports

8.93

Descent

Interplay

8.86

Incredible Toons

Dynamix

8,86

Incredible Machine 2

Sierra

8.85

Allied General

SSI

8.81

Front Page Sports Baseball

Dynamix

8.76

Romance ot 3 Kingdoms IV

Koei

8,75

Star Trek: TNG, Final Unity

Spectrum HofoByte

8.75

Monopoly

Virgin/Westwood

8.73

1830

Avalon Hill

8.72

Hardball 4

Accolade

8.70

Buried In Time

Sanctuary Woods

8.65

Mortal Kombat 3

GT Interactive

8.64

Wolf

Sanctuary Woods

8.64

King’s Quest VII

Sierra

8.64

Caesar II

Sierra

8.62

Superheroes of Hoboken

Legend

8.62

Phantasmagoria

Sierra

8,62

1942 Pacific Air War Gold

MicroProse

8,61

Magic Carpet 2

Electronic Arts

8.56

The Dig

LucasArts

8.56

Shannara

Legend

8.55

Werewolf vs. Comanche

NovaLogic

8.50

Death Gate

Legend

8.50

CivNet

MicroProse

8,47

FX Fighter

GTE Entertainment

8.46

Stonekeep

Interplay

8,44

Apache

Interactive Magic

8,43

Destruction Derby

Psygnosis

8.43

Dark Legions

SSI

8.43

Lords of the Realm

Impressions

8.42

Warhammer

Mindscape

8.39

Cyclemania

Accolade

8.37

Hardball 5

Accolade

8,36

Fighter Duel

Philips Media

8.35

Earthworm Jim

Activision

8,33

Top Gun

Spectrum HoloByte

8,33

Loderunner

Dynamix

8.31

Future Shock

Bethesda

8,30

Celtic Tales

Koei

8.28

Bioforge

Origin

8.27

Menzoberranzan

SSI

8.26

Clockwerx

Spectrum HoloByte

8,25

Panthers in the Shadows

HPS

8,25

Games on unnumbered lines have scores equal to the line above. Top game of type. Red = Ne\v Game, AD - Adventure, RP - Role Playing, SI - Simulation/ Space
Combat, ST = Strategy, WG = Wargame. AC = Action, SP = Sports, CP = Classic/Puzzle. Games are retired after two years and become eligible lor the Hall of Fame.

▲

MARTIN CIRULIS

wish you'd learn to code

It reminds me of a little disagree-
ment I got into with a couple of
Netwits over Origin’s Strike
Commander. Now, this was in the d^
when a Pentium 60 was a rare and
wondrous beast, and both of these
upper middle-class wunderkinders
were going on about what an incredi-
ble game it was, while I vainly ques-
tioned the wisdom of a computer
game that could only be properly
played by, at the time, a very small per-
centage of the gaming public. I don’t
recall exactly how it turned out, but I
believe my point fell on ears which had
been deafened by computing power.

Does the load of dough I just
dropped mean I must now join them,
and proclaim that only the absolutely
most demanding games are the best
ones? Probably not. Even though I
have once again caught up, I still
won’t care to be taken lor granted by
programmers who think we all make
100 g’s a year and can get our com-
puters wholesale, just like them.

So, give me the Wing IVs and the
ATFs and the Quakes, ’cause I want to
put this rig through its paces. But
while you’re at it, don’t torget to give
everybody the X-Coms and the Civs.*^

es, folks, it
finally hap-
pened.

Thanks in part
to CGWand
my thousands
of loyal fans
(well, three
anyway) who couldn’t bear to see me
stumbling further behind the technol-
ogy curve, I have finally abandoned
the world of 486s forever and now
revel in the realm of Pentium/4-billion-
and-66s, 90x CD-ROMS and graphic
cards with more memory than the
Library of Congress. After a year and
a half of watching computer games
slowly leave me behind, now I'm on
top of the virtual world!

So, why do I feel like I've just gotten
a nose job so I can hang out with
those kids on "Beverly Hills 90210?"

Will all this power change me? Will
my reviews start featuring those genius
statements like, "This game ran like a
dream on my Pentium 200!" Will I sur-
render to the glow of multimedia
chrome? Will sloppy programming
cease to bug me because my
machine is too fast to care? To be hon-
est, I dunno. Power stilt does corrupt.

I can't s^ I wasn’t chortling over
how great Wing Commander 4 looked
and played on my new rig, or “wow-
ing" over finally being able to run
Advanced Tactical PiGH^RS-in all its
high-res glory and multiple-aircraft

complexily-without a single hiccup.
But you know, EarthSiege? is still a lit-
tle flat after the first few minutes of
“ooohs" and "ahhhs" fade.. .so I know
my objectivity isn't completely gone.

On the other hand, my recent expe-
rience with Civ2 has shown me how
technology can enhance chrome.
When I first started playing it on (he
noble old clunker, the little videos for
the Wonders of the World were more
cute than inspiring, as th^ chugged
onto the screen in stuttering double-
speed. But playing it on the new rig
and viewing the videos as they were
meant to be elicits the ‘'cool" response
that is so important for a game. Now, I
can hear the moans of the old-timers
out there saying that my head is being
turned by things that are completely
superfluous to a game, and to be hon-
est, you’re probably right. Video clips
have nothing to do with the mechanics
of a wargame. And there is no doubt
(hat a good strategy/wargame should
be playable on a 286 or even on a
board, lor that matter, and the ideal
strat game is one where the basic
game will run on anything. But I have
to admit that more hardware power
and accessibility to more options
makes a good game even better.

Speaking of running on a 286, one
of the things that’s really bothering me
about riding the upgrade wave is the
idea is that I am somehow now
endorsing the outrageous system

demands on games that really don’t
merit them. I mean, I didn’t really blow
4-odd grand on this machine just so I
could play Thexder or This Means War

I sin-
cerely doubt
high-tech
chrome will
ever make me
like a bad
game. JJ

at normal speed, simply because
nobody bothered to code these things
properly. Remember the good old
days, when Doom squeezed every sin-
gle ounce of processor power out of
your 386 and 4 megs of memory?
Some game programmers sure seem
to have gotten cocky these days about
what consumers are expected to have
on their desks. When programmers
Scy, "We sure wish they'd all get
Pentiums!" My response is, "We sure

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.“Peadtock... truly shines as a
muiti-piayer experience.”

-Computer Gaming Worid

“Richiy deveioped backgrounds
of the alien races and the
thoroughly refined technology
tree give this game a personality
all its own.”

-Computer Gaming Worid

‘ “Absorbing gameplay... the best
visuals and sound effects that
today’s technology offers.”

-Next Generation

Multlplaier Action. Play against ttic comnuter, ni un to sii
tinman opponents via modent, netwoik, Intemet, oi e-mail.

'am'.TiiT.TITKM'Bfialivl-ai

“A solid mulli-player game test.

■Computer Gaming World

“Multi-player, city building, lanl
exploring, alien busting fun” *

■Stralegv Plus

“Absorbing gameplay.T. the best
visjials^nd sound effects that
today’s tocbnoiogy offers.”

-Next Goneraiion - '

9 .

Interactive Enemy A.I. Your incredible SD-rendered opponents possess
unique attributes thal will tilt the balance ol power. Intimidation Is hey
as they hurl insults and carry out sirategies thal can mean your doom.

Resource Management Like No
Other. Manage your initial
population and scarce
resources and build a self-
sufficient, expanding colony.
Choose wisely from farms,
mines, factories, power plants,
R&D and military expansion to
achieve final victory.

While a peaceable victory is possible, war may be inevitable.

Deadlock takes you there in Incredibly realistic detail. Engage

your opponents in a bitter struggle to destroy • or be destroyed.

Find out why Computer Gaming World called Deadlock “A solid MnggrEww

multi-player gamelest.” |l |

ill

Call 1-800-245-7744 to order, or for more ioformalion.

“This truly is the vanguard of the
next generation of
electronic entertainment.”
out of 5 stars.

“Origin’s latest science fiction
spectacular is even more impressive
than its predecessor.”,^^

“A movie game that takes CD-ROIVI
warfare into the next generation.”

- Entertainmeat Weekly

COlillilAnDE^

Tlnlg PISDEE HP PPEEHHIM!,,

PC-ED®?

M-'.

MORIGIN^

X'^^lnterdctlve Movie

http:/ / www.ca.com/ origin.li

Available through Electronic Arts® direct sales 1-800-245-4525

1996, ORIGIN Systems, Inc. Origin Intenxtrve Movie ond Ttie Price o( Freodom ore Irademorta oE ORIGIN Systems, Inc. Origin ond Wing Cemmondef ore registered trodemodu o( ORIGIN Systems, Inc. Bedronic Arts is o registered IrodonoiicofEIcctnirsje Arts.

Circle Reader Service ff146

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